The Reserve Bank of India has appointed former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath as a part-time, non-official director on its Central Board, bringing his experience in aerospace, science and technology leadership to the central bank.
The appointment took effect on August 20, 2026, for a 4-year term.
Somanath brings decades of experience from India’s space programme. He previously served as Chairman of ISRO before retiring in January 2025. During his tenure, he held several senior leadership responsibilities across the space sector.
Following his retirement from ISRO, Somanath was appointed Chancellor of Chanakya University near Bengaluru.
His appointment adds expertise from India’s scientific and technology ecosystem to the RBI’s Central Board, which includes senior public-sector and financial policy leaders.
Somanath joins other part-time, non-official directors on the board, including Anand Mahindra, who has also been re-appointed for another 4-year term.
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