..:: India Strategic ::. APPOINTMENTS: Dr Sekhar Basu takes charge as Chairman, AEC and Secretary, DAE

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Editorial

Dr Sekhar Basu takes charge as Chairman, AEC and Secretary, DAE

Published: October 2015

Mumbai. Dr Sekhar Basu took over as Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in Mumbai October 23. He succeeds Dr Ratan Kumar Sinha on his superannuation after 42 years of service in the Department.

Dr Basu, a renowned nuclear scientist, was the Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) prior to taking his new assignment as AEC Chairman. Earlier, he worked as the Project Director of Nuclear Submarine Programme and the Chief Executive of the Nuclear Recycle Board in the same institute. Dr Basu, an engineer of exceptional ability, has played a lead role in multiple areas of nuclear science and engineering, and is a major contributor in establishing India as a leader in nuclear field.

Born on September 20, 1952, he did his schooling from Ballygunge Government School, Kolkata and graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), University of Mumbai in 1974. After completion of one year of BARC Training School programme in nuclear science and engineering, he joined the Reactor Engineering Division of BARC in 1975.

He started his career by designing fuel for Boiling Water Reactor, which showed excellent performance. Later he took up the responsibility of the development of nuclear submarine propulsion plant and built the land based prototype at Kalpakkam from scratch. He continues to guide the Indian nuclear propulsion programme for the sea going versions. Since 2000, he was also responsible for the design, development, construction and operation of nuclear recycle plants at Tarapur and Kalpakkam, involving reprocessing and nuclear waste management. These plants are performing to international standards. Work on the design of Indian Pressurised Water Reactor has also been initiated by him.

As Director, BARC, Dr Basu took special initiatives for major expansion of the societal programmes of DAE in the field of nuclear agriculture, food preservation and nuclear medicine. While pursuing the basic research in the field of nuclear science and engineering, he has also been working towards the expansion of enrichment and strategic programmes. He represented India in concluding ‘Arrangements and Procedures’ with the US Government for reprocessing of US hypothecated fuel and has chaired the International Committee for the design review of three modules of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).

He has several publications to his credit in national and international journals. Dr Basu has been conferred several awards and these include: Indian Nuclear Society Award 2002, DAE Awards in 2006 and 2007. He is also a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineers (INAE) and Indian Society for Non Destructive Testing (ISNT). Jadavpur University awarded him with D Lit (Honoris Causa) degree in 2013. He was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2014.