Palle Rama Rao, former secretary of Department of Science & Technology (DST) and former chair of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), passed away in Hyderabad on October 3. He was 89.
One of India’s most distinguished metallurgists and scientific leaders, and a Padma Vibhushan awardee, Mr. Rama Rao was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) between 1999 and 2002.
Mr. Rama Rao obtained an MA in Physics from the University of Madras, an MSc in Nuclear Physics from Andhra University, and a PhD in Metallurgy from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (now IIT-BHU).
His career began at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru in 1960. He later served as director, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, secretary of DST, and Department of Ocean Development, and later as chairman of AERB, and as a member of the Atomic Energy Commission.
For several years, he also served as chair, Council of the Indian Institute of Science, contributing to the governance and advancement of one of India’s premier scientific institutions.
At UoH, Mr. Rama Rao’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor was marked by his emphasis on academic excellence, research, innovation, and interdisciplinary scholarship, university officials stated. He was known for listening patiently to students, faculty, and members of the wider university community, and engaging with them without judgment or condescension, they recalled.
Generations of students and researchers, and the university community, which benefited from his leadership and guidance, mourned his death.
Published – October 06, 2026 06:51 pm IST
