Biographical Sketches of National Institute for Advanced Studies Planning Committee Members
V. S. Ramamurthy, chair, is a well-known Indian nuclear scientist with a broad range of scientific and technical contributions from basic research to science administration. Ramamurthy started his career at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai in 1963. His research focused on both experimental and theoretical fields, including nuclear fission and heavy ion reaction mechanisms, statistical and thermodynamic properties of nuclei, physics of atomic and molecular clusters, and low energy accelerator applications. From 1995 to 2006, Ramamurthy was fully involved in the promotion of science in India as Secretary to the government of India in the Department of Science & Technology (DST) in New Delhi. He was also the chairman of the International Atomic Energy Agency Standing Advisory Group on Nuclear Applications for nearly a decade. After retirement from government service, Ramamurthy, in addition to continuing research in nuclear physics at the Inter-University Accelerator Centre in New Delhi, was also actively involved in human resource development in all aspects of nuclear research and application. Ramamurthy is currently a chairman of the Recruitment and Assessment Board of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and a member of the National Security Advisory Board. In recognition of his service to expand science and technology (S&T) in the country, Ramamurthy was awarded one of the top civilian awards, the Padma Bhushan Award, by the Government of India in 2005. Currently, Ramamurthy is the director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore.
Manoj Bali, Scientist ‘G’ is the director of the Directorate of Low Intensity Conflict at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Headquarters (HQ). Bali completed his B.Tech (Mechanical) from the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology in Patiala in 1980. Following that, he joined DRDO at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory in Hyderabad as Scientist ‘B’ in 1982. In 1985, he moved to the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh. In 2005, he joined the Group for Forecasting and Analysis of Systems and Technologies, and in 2007, moved to the Direc-
torate of Interaction with Services and Business at the DRDO HQ. Since 2009, Bali has worked in the Directorate of Armament. He has also focused on effectiveness analysis, time-cost overrun of projects, naval and army S&T requirements, the DRDO Materials Programme, the Soldier as a System Programme, and weapons requirements. He was sent to Annapolis, MD to study the American weapons acquisition process. Subsequently, he developed a defence acquisitions database for the Indian Defence Forces. He is a member of the High Energy Materials Society of India, the chairman of the joint DRDO-Air Force team for siting of underground storage for explosives, and the chairman of the Data Analysis Committee for the Delhi region. As a Member Secretary, he organised the national DRDO Golden Jubilee Student Competition for 2008 and 2009.
H. V. Batra, Scientist ‘G’ is the director of the Defence Food Research Laboratory in Mysore. Batra completed his M.V.Sc. and Ph.D both from Haryana University in 1977 and 1985, respectively. He worked as the head of the Mycobacteriology Department at the National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi from 1984 to 1990, and joined the Defence Research and Development Establishment in 1990. Batra has undertaken many technological innovations in the area of molecular biotechnology, immunoassay technology, construction of synthetic genes, and construction of chimeric genes/proteins. He achieved a breakthrough in hybridoma technology to rapidly generate specific high affinity monoclonal antibodies and has developed a number of diagnostic kits and systems for the detection of important biowarfare agents, which are extremely useful for onsite investigations of biological emergencies arising from natural outbreaks. He also prepared the Bio-defence programme for the country. Batra is a recipient of many awards, honours, and recognitions including the National Institute of Immunology Product Development Award in 1988, the DRDO Technology Cash Award in 1996, DRDO Scientist of the Year Award in 2002, and the Titanium Trophy Award in 2012. He has to his credit 134 publications in national and international publications, 12 chapters in national and international books, and nine patents. He has also guided 26 Ph.D. students. Batra is a life member of the Indian Immunology Society, a member of the Association of Veterinary Microbiology, an Immunologist and Specialist in Infectious Diseases, a member of the Veterinary Public Health Association, and a member of the Indian Leptospirosis Society.
S. Chandrashekar is currently a professor in the Corporate Strategy and Policy Area at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB). Prior to his joining IIMB he spent more than 20 years working at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). His work at ISRO covered all parts of the programme – satellite and rockets as well as the applications of space technology especially remote sensing. He was also involved with activities related to international cooperation and has represented and led Indian delegations to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. His research interests at IIMB include technology and competitive advantage, national technology priorities
and national technology policy, studies on innovation, telecommunications in the Indian context, national innovation systems, modeling complex systems and national security issues. His most significant research contribution include analysis of technical and organisational aspects of China’s missile capability; assessment of Pakistan missiles; and assessing the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal. His recent work includes a study of sensitive installations using open source satellite imagery. He has also been involved with other members of the group on a micro-level comparative case study of Chinese capabilities in one domain of technology related to the development of turbo-fan aircraft engine technology.
S. Gopal worked with the government of India for more than three and a half decades, during which he had wide experience in the analysis of national and international security and strategic affairs. After retirement, he was instrumental, along with other colleagues, in establishing the Institute of Contemporary Studies in Bangalore. The Institute started a quarterly journal called Contemporary Analyst, in which Gopal has been a regular contributor. One of his more important papers was on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), entitled “India and the CTBT.” He is a member of the Asia Centre in Bangalore, where he presented a paper assessing Pakistan’s security scenarios. In a seminar on Naxalism organised by the Observer Research Foundation in Chennai, he presented a paper entitled, “The Naxalite Movement: Impact of External Networking.” In a seminar on Sri Lanka, recently organised by the Indian Centre for South Asian Studies and the Centre for Asia Studies, Gopal presented a paper entitled, “The Role of the Janata Vimukti Peramuna in Sri Lankan Politics,” with particular reference to the ethnic question. Gopal also has wide experience in technical and imagery intelligence analysis.
Rajaram Nagappa is a specialist in aerospace propulsion and has worked extensively in the design and development of solid propellant rockets. His interests lie in missile technology and space weaponisation. He has served in the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at ISRO as its Associate Director, and later was the Pandalai Memorial Chair Professor at Anna University in Chennai. He has also taught at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Israel. He is a recipient of the Astronautical Society of India Award, the Distinguished Alumnus Award of the Madras Institute of Technology, DRDO’s Agni Award for Excellence in Self Reliance, the Certificate of Appreciation of the International Astronautical Federation, and the Honorary Fellowship of the High Energy Materials Society of India. His recent work includes an assessment of Pakistani cruise missiles and an assessment of the Iranian satellite launch vehicle Safir. He has also traced the development of fighter aircraft in China as a part of a study on China’s S&T capability.
Gulshan Rai is director general of CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) and group coordinator of E-Security and the Cyber Law Division in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Previously, he
was executive director of the Education and Research Network, India for over seven years and was instrumental in establishing the first large scale education and research network in close collaboration with the leading educational and research institutions in the country. Rai has worked since 1998 on the evolving legal framework to address issues arising from cyberspace. His sustained efforts in this area resulted in the second technology legislation in the history of India: the Information Technology Act and its recent amendments. Rai is particularly focused on developing security capabilities in the country through increased security education programs. He has initiated several programs in this area with industry and educational institutions. He has enhanced the security of government infrastructures through an effective security framework that prescribes standards, and is audited by a panel of independent auditors. Rai holds a Ph.D. and an M.Tech and has published several papers and reports on e-commerce, cybersecurity, cyber laws, education and networking, and has presented on these issues at several national and international conferences.
Anuradha Reddy is director of personnel in the Ministry of Defence. She has worked in the capacity of Officer on Special Duty to the Scientific Advisor to the Raksha Mantri from 2008 to 2012. Anuradha Reddy has a Ph.D. in international affairs from Jawaharlal Nehru University, is an alumni of the National Defence College of India and has studied trade negotiation at Harvard.
A. K. Sinha is a serving paramilitary officer from Sashastra Seema Bal and is presently working as senior research officer with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). His current responsibilities include policy research, program planning, and interagency coordination in the field of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disaster management, including weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. With an M.V.Sc., he specialises in biological disaster management including bioterrorism and biosecurity. As a core group member, he has been associated with NDMA since its inception, and has contributed to the formulation of National Guidelines on Biological Disaster Management, Medical Preparedness and Mass Casualty Management, Management of the Dead in the Aftermath of Disaster, NDMA-World Health Organization Action Plan on Pandemic Preparedness Beyond Health and Plan to Counter the Threats to the Municipal Water Supply and Water Reservoirs. In addition to NDMA, he actively contributes to biorisk management capacity-building programs of DRDO, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, the National Institute of Disaster Management, and the State Administrative Training Institutes. Sinha has expertise in biosecurity and bioterrorism. As a technical expert from NDMA, he has been associated with the Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and was also a member of the Indian delegation to the UN Biological Toxin and Weapon Convention (BTWC) in Geneva in 2008, the Biodefense Congress in Kualampur in 2011, the BTWC Review Conference in Geneva in 2011, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum Workshop on Biorisk Management in
Manila in 2012. During his association with MEA and international exchanges, he contributed significantly to strengthening India’s foreign policy obligations on global biorisk management. Currently Sinha is coordinating NDMA’s Biological Disaster Management Programme and capacity-building programme on CBRN Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation for police and security forces.
Lalitha Sundaresan is currently visiting professor at NIAS. She has a doctorate from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata where her work focused on digital processing of multi-satellite data. She was a scientist at ISRO, where she carried out studies to evaluate the usefulness of satellite remote sensing for monitoring natural resources, and natural disasters with special reference to India. She worked as a principal scientific officer at DST, where she was involved with the setting up of Natural Resources Data Base centers in the districts of Karnataka. Together with IIT, Bombay, she was also involved in the development of the indigenous Geographical Information Software (GIS). She also coordinated training programs given by DST on the use of the Natural Resources Data Management System and GIS for development planning. Her recent works include the analysis of measurement errors in missile images obtained from open sources and the resulting impact of these errors on missile performance. She has also studied the Chinese university/research institution network and collaboration on superalloys as a critical part of the micro-level case study of Chinese capabilities in turbofan engine technology.
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