Abhay Karandikar (born 15 June 1965) is an accomplished engineer and academician, currently serving as Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. He assumed office on 1 October 2023, following his tenure as Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Education & Background
Karandikar earned a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics Engineering from Jiwaji University, Gwalior; a Master of Technology and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He began his academic career as faculty at IIT Bombay, serving in roles including Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Dean (Faculty Affairs), Institute Chair Professor, and Head of the Computer Centre. He later served as Director of IIT Kanpur from April 2018 to September 2023 (on lien from IIT Bombay).
Career and Appointments
Academic and Technical Leadership
Karandikar is recognized as a pioneer in advancing rural broadband connectivity through initiatives like the Gram Marg project and the concept of frugal 5G networks. He played a central role in the establishment of the Telecom Standards Development Society of India (TSDSI), serving as founding member and Chairman, contributing to India’s participation in global standards bodies such as 3GPP. He served as a part‑time Member of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) from 2017 to 2020.
He led national technology policy efforts as chair of the 5G Spectrum Policy Task Force and the 6G Spectrum Task Force, driving experimental license frameworks and future telecom vision architecture.
Secretary, Department of Science & Technology
Appointed Secretary of DST in October 2023, Karandikar’s term is expected to continue until he reaches the age of 60. In this capacity, he oversees national scientific research promotion, innovation ecosystem policy, institutional funding, capacity building, and coordination across ministries and scientific bodies.
Key Initiatives or Focus Areas
Under his leadership, DST has prioritized:
- Promoting clean and green technologies for sustainability, including in transportation, water, energy, and agriculture sectors
- Strengthening startup incubation and innovation through schemes like NIDHI and support via the Technology Development Board (TDB)
- Enhancing collaboration across rural broadband policy, digital infrastructure planning, and bridging science with national development goals
- Leading integration of technology into policy frameworks aligned with India’s net‑zero target by 2070 and growth in sustainable innovation ecosystems
Summary
Abhay Karandikar is a seasoned academic and policy leader, whose career bridges frontier telecom research, technology standardization, and administrative governance. As Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology, he now leads India’s national technology agenda—supporting innovation, promoting sustainable solutions, and ensuring that scientific research translates into social and economic impact.