Dr. Raghunath A. Mashelkar (DIN 00074119), a National Research Professor, is also the President of Global Research Alliance, a network of public-funded R&D institutes from Asia-Pacific, Europe and the US, with over 60,000 scientists in its ranks. Dr. Mashelkar has served for over 11 years as the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, which has 38 laboratories and about 20,000 employees. He was also the President of the Indian National Science Academy, and the Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK). Deeply connected with the innovation movement in India, Dr. Mashelkar is currently the Chairman of India’s National Innovation Foundation, Reliance Innovation Council, Thermax Innovation Council, KPIT Technology Innovation Council, and Marico Innovation Foundation.
In the post-liberalised India, Dr Mashelkar has played a critical role in shaping India’s science and technology policies. He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, and also of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet, set up by successive governments. He has chaired 12 high-powered committees set up to look into diverse issues of higher education, national auto fuel policy, overhauling the drug regulatory system, dealing with the menace of spurious drugs, reforming the Indian agriculture research system, etc. The President of India honoured Dr. Mashelkar with Padma Shri (1991), Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2014) – the three highest civilian honours in recognition of his contribution to nation-building.
In August 1997, Business India named Dr. Mashelkar as one of the 50 path-breakers in post-Independence India. In 1998, he won the JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award, becoming the first scientist to win it. In June 1999, Business India did a cover story on Dr. Mashelkar as ‘CEO OF CSIR Inc.’ – a dream that he himself had articulated when he took over as DG, CSIR in July 1995. On November 16, 2005, he received the Business Week (USA) award of ‘Stars of Asia’ from former U.S. President George Bush (Sr.), becoming the first Asian Scientist to have received it. Dozens of universities have honoured him with honorary doctorates, among them universities of London, Salford, Swinburne, Pretoria, Wisconsin and Delhi.
He was only the third Indian engineer to be elected in 1998 as Fellow of Royal Society (FRS), London, in the 20th century. He was elected Foreign Associate of National Academy of Science (USA) in 2005; Associate Foreign Member, American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2011); Foreign Fellow of the US National Academy of Engineering (2003); Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering, UK (1996); Foreign Fellow of Australian Technological Science and Engineering Academy (2008); and Fellow of World Academy of Art & Science, US (2000).
Apart from Reliance Industries, Dr. Mashelkar is on the Boards of several other reputed companies, such as Tata Motors Ltd., Thermax Ltd., Piramal Enterprises Ltd., KPIT Technologies Ltd. and TAL Manufacturing Solutions Ltd.
He is the Chairman of the Safety, Health and Environment Committee, as well as the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of Tata Motors. He is also a member of the Audit, Nomination & Remuneration, and Risk Management committees of Tata Motors. At TAL Manufacturing Solutions Ltd., he is a member of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee. He is a member of Audit and Risk committees of Piramal Enterprises Ltd.; Stakeholders Relationship Committee of KPIT Technologies Ltd.; and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of Thermax Ltd.
At Reliance Industries, Dr. Mashelkar is an independent director and a member of the Audit, Human Resources, Nomination & Remuneration, and the Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance committees.