V. K. Saraswat Biography 
Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, best referred to as V. K. Saraswat is an Indian scientist best known for his efforts behind Prithvi missile and its induction in the Indian armed forces. He formerly served as the Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Indian Minister of Defence. Currently he is a member of Planning Commission of India, who also serves as Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University. For his outstanding contributions to the field of science and research, government of India honoured him with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan in 1998 and 2013 respectively. He retired from government service as DRDO Chief.
Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat hails from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He was born in the year 1949. He completed his Engineering from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science Gwalior, and did his Master’s from Indian Institute of Science. He did his research works in Osmania University to take a doctorate degree. He took Ph. D in Combustion Engineering. He started his professional career in DRDO in 1972 at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad. He was involved in the development of country’s first Liquid Propulsion Engine. He remained the project director of Prithvi.
As a scientist he spearheaded the development of India’s strategic and tactical missile systems. Agni is his most important contribution, strategic missile covering a range up to 3,000 kms. Dr. Saraswat is a forerunner in the development of number of critical missile technologies in India. He remained a Distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller Research and Development (Missiles and Strategic Systems) in the DRDO before he took over as DG of DRDO and SA to Defence Minister.
Published: September 17, 2018
Updated: September 17, 2018
