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Padma Vibhushan Recipient M.R. Srinivasan Passes Away at 93.

Obituary | Dated: 23 May 2025

On May 20, 2025, renowned nuclear physicist and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of India, Malur Ramasamy (M.R.) Srinivasan, passed away at the age of 95 in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. He was a key architect of India's nuclear energy programme and held several prominent positions in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Mumbai.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - Born on January 5, 1930, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, M.R. Srinivasan joined the Department of Atomic Energy in 1955. He began his career working closely with Dr. Homi Bhabha on India’s first nuclear research reactor, Apsara, which went critical in August 1956.
  • - In 1959, he was appointed Principal Project Engineer for India’s first Atomic Power Station and later became Chief Project Engineer of the Madras Atomic Power Station in 1967. His leadership was pivotal in the early development of India’s nuclear power infrastructure.
  • - He rose through the ranks, becoming Director of the Power Projects Engineering Division (1974), Chairman of the Nuclear Power Board (1984), and Chairman of the AEC and Secretary of the DAE (1987). That same year, he became the Founder-Chairman of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Under Dr. Srinivasan’s guidance, 18 nuclear power units were initiated — 7 operational, 7 under construction, and 4 in planning. His strategic leadership laid the foundation for India’s current nuclear capabilities.
  • (ii) Between 1990 and 1992, he served as Senior Advisor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. He was also a founding member of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), contributing to global nuclear safety efforts.
  • (iii) M.R. Srinivasan was honoured with the Padma Shri (1984), Padma Bhushan (1990), and the Padma Vibhushan (2015) for his exceptional contributions to nuclear science and energy in India.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Who recently led India’s nuclear power and chaired the Atomic Energy Commission before passing away in 2025?

Correct Answer: M.R. Srinivasan

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