Dr. K.Kasturirangan passes away at 84 : ISRO release statement.

BENGALURU. 25/04/2025 : Former ISRO Chief and renowned Indian Scientist K.Kasturirangan passes away at the age of 84 at his residence in Bangalore. He was suffering from age related ailments, family sources reveal.

According to a ISRO statement : “Dr. K. Kasturirangan has left for heavenly abode this morning at 10. 43 am at his residence in Bengaluru. His body will be kept in RRI for paying last respects on April 27th from 10.00- 12.00 hrs.” Dr. Kasturirangan served as the fifth chairman of ISRO between 1994-2003, and also as the Secretary, Department of Space for over nine years.

Chairperson of drafting committee on New National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and headed the 12-member steering committee responsible for developing a new National Curriculam Framework. Kasturirangan also served as the chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission (KKC).

He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha (2003–2009) under UPA government and as a member of the Planning Commission of India. Kasturirangan was also the Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, from April 2004 to 2009.

The former ISRO chief was born on October 24, 1940, in Ernakulam, Kerala to C M Krishnaswamy Iyer and Visalakshi. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, his family had settled at Chalakudy in Thrissur, Kerala.

K. Kasturirangan was a recipient of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. Dr. Kasturirangan got his Bachelor of Science with Honours and Master of Science degrees in Physics from Bombay University. He received his Doctorate Degree in Experimental High Energy Astronomy in 1971 while working at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.

He was the author of the Kasturirangan Committee Report on Western Ghats, which in 2013, identified an area of 59,940 sq. km of natural landscape of Western Ghats.

PM Narendra Modi mourns the death of Dr. K.Kasturirangan, calls him “a towering figure in India’s scientific and educational journey”

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi took his X handle to mourn the death of Dr. K.Kasturirangan.

In his condolence message, Mr. Modi called Dr. Kasturirangan “a towering figure in India’s scientific and educational journey. His visionary leadership and selfless contribution to the nation will always be remembered.”

“He served ISRO with great diligence, steering India’s space programme to new heights, for which we also received global recognition. His leadership also witnessed ambitious satellite launches and focussed on innovation,” he further added.