January 8, 2025 - V Narayanan is the new Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief. This announcement was made by the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet. Narayanan will take over from S Somnath on January 14 on conclusion of the latter’s term. He will also take charge as Secretary of the Department of Space.

An order issued by the government said: "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri V. Narayanan, Director. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Valiamala, as Secretary, Department of Space, and Chairman, Space Commission, for a period of two years with effect from 14.01.2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”

An IIT Kharagpur alumnus, Narayanan is a rocket scientist with around 40 years of working in rocket and spacecraft propulsion, having joined ISRO in 1984. He takes over charge at a time when ISRO has a number of big projects in the offing, including Chandrayan-4 mission and Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight.

"We have a clear roadmap for India and I hope to take ISRO to greater heights as we have great talent," said the newly-appointed ISRO chairman to the media who is currently Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.