DRDO Townhall
Sunday, 27th Feb. 2022 at 11:00 hours
Chief Guest,
Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy
Secretary, Dept. of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO
Guest of Honour,
1) Air Marshal Ajit S. Bhonsle, AVSM, VSM (retd.)
Member, Union Public Service Commission
2) Dr. Amit Prashant
Officiating Director, IIT-Gandhinagar
Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy
Dr G Satheesh Reddy spearheads indigenous development of defence systems and technologies at DRDO. As the top defence scientist in the country, Dr Reddy guides the development of major programs on missiles and strategic systems along with futuristic technologies. A visionary and institution builder, his technology leadership has deeply impacted the development of ‘best in class’ systems for the Indian Armed Forces.
Acclaimed as one of the leading aerospace scientists of the nation, Dr Reddy is also the Director-General of the Aeronautical Development Agency that has developed the 4th Generation Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which is being inducted into active service.
With his vast experience in navigation and avionics design for missile systems for ships and submarine application, he directed multiple development projects for advanced defence technologies.
Air Marshal Ajit S. Bhonsle, AVSM, VSM (retd.)
Air Marshal Ajit Bhonsle was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 8th June 1978 and after 39 years of distinguished service, he has joined as Member, UPSC on 21st February 2017.
He is an alumnus of Bhonsala Military School, National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Defence Management and National Institute of Defence Studies, Japan.
He holds the degrees of M.Sc. Defence Studies from the University of Madras, Masters in Business Management from IGNOU and Osmania University and M.Phil from Tokyo.
Prior to joining UPSC, he held the Office of Chief of HQ, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and also as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, Doctrines, Organization & Training. During this period Air Marshal Ajit Bhonsle oversaw the capacity building of Armed Forces through the formulation of Defence Procurement Procedures to encourage ‘Make in India’ in the Defence Sector, expansion of training capacities and infrastructure at National Defence Academy, College of Defence Management & Defence Services Staff College, the commencement of B.Tech. curricula at National Defence Academy, Curricula revision of Military Institute of Technology, initiation of Cyber, Space Agencies and Special Forces Division, formulation of Joint Doctrine of Armed Forces and conduct of exercises in Disaster Relief across India in coordination with state governments of Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
He has spearheaded the project for the establishment of Indian National Defence University and the selection of site and design for the National War Memorial & National War Museum through a global design competition.
In recognition of his distinguished service of exceptional order, the Honourable President of India has awarded him with Vishishta Seva Medal in 2005 and Ati Vishishta Seva Medal in 2010.
Air Marshal Ajit Bhonsle is an avid traveller and takes a keen interest in performing arts, culture and culinary. An animal lover, he is fond of golf, swimming and equestrian sports.
Dr. Amit Prashant
Dr Amit is the Officiating Director of IIT Gandhinagar. He has been teaching at the institute since November 2010. Prior to that, he was an assistant professor at IIT Kanpur (2005-2010).
He completed his B.E. from IIT Roorkee in 1997. He worked as an Assistant Engineer at Consulting Engineering Services India (Pvt.) Ltd., New Delhi (1997-1999)
He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Tennessee (2004-2005).
Prof. Prashant’s research interests include constitutive modelling for granular materials, numerical modelling of geotechnical structures, earthquake geotechnical engineering and applications of geosynthetics.
…further information will be updated soon
