S. Somanath, one of India’s most respected space scientists and the former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has been named the new Vice-Chancellor of Chanakya University in Bengaluru. The announcement was made by the university through an official communication.
Somanath will formally take charge as Vice-Chancellor on Thursday. He succeeds M.K. Sridhar, who has been serving as the Founder Chancellor of the university. Although he is stepping down from the Vice-Chancellor position, Prof. Sridhar will continue to remain actively involved in the university’s activities as a member of the board of governors.
Chanakya University, a private higher education institution based in Bengaluru, is known for its focus on interdisciplinary learning and Indian knowledge systems. The appointment of S. Somanath is being seen as a significant step for the university, given his remarkable leadership at ISRO and his role in key missions like Chandrayaan-3.
Along with the change in leadership, the university has also restructured its board of governors. The newly formed board will include well-known names from India’s business and education sectors. Among them are Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and T.V. Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital and former CFO of Infosys. Their inclusion is expected to bring more industry-academia collaboration to the university.
In addition, the Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department will serve as an ex-officio member of the board, ensuring alignment with government policies and higher education objectives.
With this new leadership and advisory team, Chanakya University is expected to scale up its academic initiatives and research goals. The presence of a leader like Somanath, who played a crucial role in advancing India’s space programme, adds significant value to the university’s vision of becoming a globally respected institution rooted in Indian values.
