Dr K Kasturirangan's contribution to Space Science and nation building
Professor Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, or Dr. Kasuturirangan as he is fondly remembered as, was a remarkable leader, an accomplished scientist, and a transformative figure of our nation, who profoundly shaped India's space ambitions, educational framework, and showed the vision for the future. His life's journey, marked by an unwavering pursuit of knowledge and its application for the nation's advancement, has left an enduring legacy.
Professor Kasturirangan's early academic brilliance, culminating in a doctorate in Experimental High Energy Astronomy from the University of Bombay laid a strong foundation for his extraordinary contributions to space exploration. He received the doctorate degree in 1971 when he was working at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. During his tenure at ISRO Satellite Centre (now the U.R.Rao Satellite Centre), he was the Project Director for India's first two experimental earth observation satellites, BHASKARA-I & II.
One of his landmark contributions was the expansion of India's remote sensing program. Satellites like IRS-1C and IRS-1D launched during his tenure provided high-resolution data for use in agriculture, forestry, water resources, and urban planning. His vision helped bridge the gap between advanced technology and development, demonstrating how space science could directly benefit common public. During 1990s and early 2000s, played a leading role in building and strengthening global perspectives of space activities. As a key person at the ISRO's lead Centre for Satellite Technology, ISRO Satellite Centre, for more than two decades and finally as its Director during 1990-1994 had primary responsibility for establishing design, fabrication, qualification and integration methodologies and systems for all satellites and their subsystems.
His long and impactful association with ISRO saw him serve as Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space from 1994 to 2003. This era witnessed significant progress and several major missions under his insightful guidance. He spearheaded the successful development and launch of vital satellite series like Indian National Satellite (INSAT) for communication and meteorology, and IRS for Earth observation. The space programme witnessed successful operationalisation of PSLV and flight testing of GSLV during his leadership.
Notably, India's first lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, was conceived during his leadership, firmly establishing the nation in lunar exploration and yielding invaluable scientific insights. His steadfast dedication to developing indigenous technologies ensured India's growing self-reliance in the crucial space sector.
As an Astrophysicist, Dr. Kasturirangan's interest includes research in high energy X-ray and gamma ray astronomy as well as optical astronomy. He actively supported and driven the development and realisation of multi-wavelength astronomy mission, AstroSat right from the beginning.
Beyond his monumental achievements in space, Professor Kasturirangan's visionary outlook extended to education. He chaired the committee responsible for drafting the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a pivotal policy aimed at revolutionizing India's education system. The NEP 2020, with its emphasis on holistic development, critical thinking, multidisciplinary learning, and the integration of technology, reflects his deep understanding of the evolving needs of students and the nation. His leadership in shaping this policy underscores his commitment to nurturing young minds and empowering future generations.
The policy's focus on early childhood education, foundational literacy and numeracy, and flexible higher education pathways stands as a testament to his comprehensive vision for an equitable and high-quality education system.
Apart from his scientific contributions, Dr. Kasturirangan played a vital role in shaping India's education and science policy. He chaired the committee that drafted the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), a transformative document aimed at modernizing India's education system to make it more holistic, flexible, and aligned with the needs of the 21st century. The policy emphasizes early childhood education, foundational literacy, research, and multidisciplinary learning. He was the Member (Science), planning commission from 2009 to 2014 and instrumental in formulating the 12th Five year plan of total S&T sector of India.
Dr Kasturirangan also made a significant contribution to environmental conservation through his role as the Chairman of th high level working group on Western ghats, popularly known as Kasturirangan committee.
Professor Kasturirangan's influence extended far beyond space and education. He held significant positions such as Member of the Planning Commission, Member of the Rajya Sabha from 2003-2009 and Chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission. In these roles, he consistently championed science, technology, and education, advocating for policies that fostered innovation and societal progress. His insightful contributions to policymaking across diverse sectors demonstrated his wide-ranging expertise and his unwavering dedication to national development.
His dedication and accomplishments earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, India's highest civilian honors, as well as international recognition for his scientific and technological contributions. These accolades underscore the profound impact he had on India and the world.
In the Indian tradition, it is believed that the seeds sown by great individuals blossom into mighty trees, offering shade and sustenance for generations to come, thereby forming a rich ecosystem, and legacies down the line. Professor Kasturirangan's visionary work in space and education has indeed grown into such lofty trees, inspiring countless individuals to pursue careers in science and contribute to the nation's progress.
His indomitable spirit, characterized by unwavering determination and a relentless pursuit of excellence, will continue to energize future scientific endeavors in the country. Let us honor this great inspiration through our own sincere, relentless, and selfless hard work towards building a stronger and more prosperous India
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Key Takeaways: • Investments in renewables are also expected to surge by 52 per cent from Rs 2.5 lakh crore to Rs 3.8 lakh crore in FY26 and FY27, largely on account of increasing share of hybrid projects that are more capital intensive, the ratings agency said. • Of the total 75 GW renewable capacity to be added over the next two financial years, around 37 per cent will come from hybrid and storage-linked projects, significantly larger than the 17 per cent share in FY24 and FY25. • Hybrid projects mix solar and wind capacities to support more consistent generation, while storage-linked projects use batteries and pumped hydro to save excess power generation for later use. • Crisil Ratings said investments in renewables were recorded at Rs 1.8 lakh crore in FY22 and FY23, which increased to Rs 2.5 lakh crore in the following two fiscals, and is expected to grow by half to Rs 3.8 lakh crore in FY26 and FY27. The surge in investments will partly be on account of rising share of hybrid and storage projects, which are more capital intensive. • A key challenge facing the sector is the inability of transmission infrastructure to keep pace with capacity addition. • Renewable projects are also facing difficulties in securing buyers through renewable energy implementing agencies (REIAs), with not enough states signing power purchase agreements (PPAs). Do You Know: • Renewable energy sources such as solar power, hydroelectric power, and wind power can be harnessed repeatedly without depleting natural resources, making them essential to a sustainable future. Therefore, expanding the scope and uses of renewable energy sources is critical to reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and combating climate change. 1. Solar Energy: Solar energy is harnessed from the sun's radiation. It can be transformed into electricity using solar panels (photovoltaic cells) or alternatively can be utilised to produce heat through solar thermal systems. 2. Wind Energy: It is generated by converting the kinetic energy of wind into electricity using wind turbines. 3. Hydropower: It is created by harnessing the kinetic energy of flowing water in rivers, dams, waterfalls, etc. It is one of the oldest and most widely used forms of renewable energy. 4. Biomass Energy: Biomass is produced from organic materials such as plant residues, animal waste, and wood. It can be heated or converted to liquid or gaseous fuels for consumption. 5. Geothermal Energy: This form of energy is derived from the Earth's internal heat. These can be naturally occurring hot water reservoirs or can be man-made. Occurring at various depths and varying temperatures below the earth's surface, these geothermal resources can be used for electricity generation and direct heating applications. 6. Tidal and Wave Energy: It harnesses the movement of ocean water to generate electricity. Tidal energy relies on the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun, whereas wave energy captures the energy of surface waves. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Akshay Urja Day 2024: India making strides in advancing renewable energy 📍Renewable energy's dirty secrets: Hidden cost of going green Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 'Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)'.Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (2018) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment, Science and Technology. What's the ongoing story: India's imports of permanent magnets—many containing rare earth elements (REEs)—nearly doubled to 53,700 tonnes in 2024-25 (FY25) from around 28,700 tonnes the year before, according to official trade data. Key Points to Ponder: • What are permanent magnets? • What are rare earth magnets? Why is it called rare earth minerals? • Which country has the most rare earth deposits? • What is the difference between critical minerals and rare earth elements? • What effects does China's dominance over the processing of rare earth magnets have on global supply chains? • What are the rare earth minerals found in India? • What should India do to prepare for future shortages of strategic minerals such as rare earth elements? Key Takeaways: • The surge in imports, with 93 per cent coming from China, preceded Beijing's April 4 export restrictions on rare earth magnets, which have since disrupted production lines globally. In India, with just 2-3 weeks of REE magnet supply remaining, industry executives are expected to travel to China in a bid to ease the shortage, sources told The Indian Express. • China is the dominant supplier of permanent magnets in India, accounting for upwards of 90 per cent share. Imports from China increased by 95 per cent year-on-year to 50,000 tonnes in FY25. Permanent magnets, especially those made with REEs, are widely used in electric vehicle (EV) motors, wind turbines, aerospace, and defence. • In contrast to FY25, imports in the ongoing financial year are expected to be tempered, after China imposed export restrictions on rare earth magnets and related materials from April 4, as a direct response to US imposing tariffs. • In India, a supply crunch is in the making, especially for neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets used in EV motors. Over the past month or so, Indian carmakers are learnt to have used up inventories and there is likely to be a shortage going forward. • Earlier, a senior executive from the Indian car industry told The Indian Express that importers are now required to give their Chinese suppliers an undertaking that the rare earth magnets procured from that country would only be used in vehicles and not for defence or military applications. • Currently, IREL (India) Ltd, a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy, refines rare earth oxides from heavy metal ores, containing REEs like cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium. However, production is limited. Moreover, the processing of refining oxides into alloys—and then into magnets—is highly technical and virtually non-existent in India. • Figuring out the supply chain for rare earth ores is a key challenge, with players looking at importing ores from Sri Lanka, Mongolia, and Myanmar, sources said. Another challenge for domestic players would be to remain viable as China significantly cuts prices of rare earth magnets. • According to the US Geological Survey's January 2025 data, India held the world's third-largest rare earth reserves in 2024—estimated at 6.9 million tonnes— behind China (44 million tonnes) and Brazil (21 million tonnes). However, on the production front, India ranked seventh at 2,900 tonnes, well behind China (255,000 tonnes), Myanmar (43,000), the US (41,600), Australia, Nigeria, and Thailand. • In the January 2024 report, India ranked fifth in reserves. The latest revision reflects reduction in other countries' estimates—Vietnam's reserves were cut from 22 million tonnes to 3.5 million, and Russia's from 10 million to 3.8 million. Do You Know: • Rare Earth Elements (REEs) or Rare Earth Metals are a set of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table — the 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium, which tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides, and have similar chemical properties. REEs are classified as light RE elements (LREE) and heavy RE elements (HREE). • The 17 Rare Earths are cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and yttrium (Y). • Some REEs are available in India — such as Lanthanum, Cerium, Neodymium, Praseodymium and Samarium, etc. Others such as Dysprosium, Terbium, and Europium, which are classified as HREEs, are not available in Indian deposits in extractable quantities. Hence, there is a dependence on countries such as China for HREEs, which is one of the leading producers of REEs, with an estimated 70 per cent share of the global production. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Knowledge Nugget: Geopolitics and Minerals – What is the UPSC relevance of Rare Earth Elements? 📍China curbs on rare earth magnets: Electric Vehicle makers face shortage, approach govt UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (5) With reference to the Rare Earth Elements, consider the following statements: 1. These are crucial for manufacturing high-value goods in defence and clean energy. 2. The United States dominated rare earth elements, supplying 85 to 95 per cent of the world's demand. 3. Gadolinium (Gd) and holmium (Ho) are considered Rare Earth Elements. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
