Overview

• Dr. K. Kasturirangan, former ISRO chairman and architect of India's space ambitions, passed away at 84 in Bengaluru on April 25, 2025.
• His mortal remains were kept at the Raman Research Institute for public homage before being cremated with full state honours on April 27, 2025.
• Under his leadership (1994–2003), ISRO operationalized PSLV, tested GSLV, expanded remote sensing capabilities, and conceived India's first lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1.
• He chaired the drafting of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, revolutionizing India's education framework, and led the Western Ghats conservation committee.
• Tributes poured in from leaders, including ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, highlighting his transformative contributions to science, education, and the nation.