Born: 1959, Odisha, India
Current Position: Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and Chairperson, Atomic Energy Commission of India
Assumed Office: 3 May 2023
🎓 Education
Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty completed his B.Sc. (Hons.) in Physics from MPC College, Baripada, Odisha, in 1979. He obtained his M.Sc. in Physics from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, in 1981. He later earned a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from the University of Mumbai.
In 1983, he joined the 26th batch of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Training School and began his professional career at the Nuclear Physics Division in BARC.
🧪 Research and Scientific Career
Dr. Mohanty is a renowned nuclear physicist with over four decades of experience in high-energy and nuclear physics. His early work involved extensive experimental research on nuclear collisions at varying energy regimes. He contributed to accelerator-based nuclear physics research at national and international levels.
He has been associated with several prestigious research projects, including the PHENIX experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the CMS experiment at CERN. He also served twice as a Scientific Associate at CERN.
Dr. Mohanty played a significant role in India’s collaboration with global nuclear research institutions and served as the Spokesperson for the India-CMS Collaboration at CERN.
🏛️ Leadership Roles
Dr. Mohanty held several key leadership positions in India’s nuclear research establishments, including:
- Director, Physics Group, BARC
- Director, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata
- Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) from March 2019
On 3 May 2023, he was appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy and Chairperson of the Atomic Energy Commission of India.
🏅 Awards and Honors
Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty has received numerous awards and recognitions for his scientific contributions:
- Young Physicist Award from the Indian Physical Society (1988)
- Young Scientist Award from the Indian National Science Academy (1991)
- Homi Bhabha Science and Technology Award (2001)
- Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) from Utkal University (2021)
🌐 Vision and Contributions
As head of the Department of Atomic Energy and Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Mohanty has emphasized the strategic role of nuclear energy in supporting India’s broader developmental goals. He has advocated for the expansion of nuclear energy’s contribution to the power sector, as well as its applications in health care, agriculture, water security, and national security.
He has also overseen key initiatives including:
- Fleet-mode construction of 700 MWe pressurized heavy water reactors
- Operationalization of the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
- Advancing nuclear hydrogen production technologies
📝 Summary
Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty is a distinguished nuclear scientist and experienced leader in India’s atomic energy sector. His appointment as Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy and Chairperson of the Atomic Energy Commission marks a continuation of his decades-long commitment to scientific excellence and national development through nuclear research and innovation.