Dr. Raghunath A. Mashelkar (DIN 00074119) is an eminent Indian scientist and a National Research Professor. He 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 is the former President of the Indian National Science Academy, Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK) and Global Research Alliance, a network of public-funded R&D institutes from Asia-Pacific, Europe and the US. Deeply connected with the innovation movement in India, Dr. Mashelkar also served as the Chairman of India’s National Innovation Foundation (2000-2018). Currently, he chairs Reliance Innovation Council, KPIT Technologies Innovation Council, Persistent Systems Innovation Council and Marico Foundation’s Governing Council.
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.
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. 39 Universities have bestowed honorary doctorates on him, which include 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); Fellow of World Academy of Art & Science, US (2000), US National Academy of Inventors (2017).
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.
Apart from Reliance Industries, Dr. Mashelkar is on the Boards of several other reputed companies, such as Thermax Ltd., Piramal Enterprises Ltd., Godrej Agrovet Ltd.
He is a member of Audit Committee of Piramal Enterprises Ltd.; and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of Thermax Ltd., and Godrej Agrovet Ltd.
At Reliance Industries, Dr. Mashelkar is an Independent Director and a member of the Audit, Human Resources, Nomination and Remuneration, Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance and the Health, Safety and Environment committees.