S. Somanath Salary 2023: How Much Does the ISRO Chairman Earn? [Chandrayaan-3 Mission Live]

S. Somanath is the current chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the national space agency of India. He was appointed to this position on January 12, 2022, succeeding Dr. K. Sivan, who retired after four years of service. Somanath is an eminent rocket scientist who has contributed to the design and development of various launch vehicles, such as PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3 .

But how much does the ISRO chairman earn? What are his perks and benefits? How does his salary compare to other top officials in India and abroad? In this article, we will try to answer these questions and provide some insights into the salary and career of S. Somanath.

Salary of ISRO Chairman

The chairman of ISRO is a secretary to the Government of India and an executive of the Department of Space (DOS), which directly reports to the prime minister of India. As per the official website of DOS, the secretary (space) is entitled to a monthly basic salary of Rs. 2.5 lakh (US$3,100) as of January 2021 . This salary is based on the pay matrix level 17, which is the highest level for civil servants in India .

However, this is not the only component of the ISRO chairman’s salary. He also receives various allowances, such as dearness allowance, house rent allowance, transport allowance, medical reimbursement, leave travel concession, and others. The exact amount of these allowances may vary depending on the location and other factors, but they can add up to a significant sum.

For instance, according to a report by The Times of India in 2017, the then ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar received a total monthly salary of Rs. 3.4 lakh (US$4,500), which included Rs. 2 lakh (US$2,600) as basic pay and Rs. 1.4 lakh (US$1,900) as allowances . Assuming a similar ratio of basic pay and allowances for S. Somanath in 2023, his total monthly salary would be around Rs. 4.25 lakh (US$5,600), which is equivalent to Rs. 51 lakh (US$67,200) per year.

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Perks and Benefits of ISRO Chairman

Besides the salary, the ISRO chairman also enjoys some perks and benefits that come with his position. Some of these are:

• Official residence: The ISRO chairman is provided with an official residence in Bengaluru, where the headquarters of ISRO and DOS are located. The residence is spacious and well-furnished, with all the amenities and security features.
• Official vehicle: The ISRO chairman is entitled to an official vehicle with a chauffeur for his official and personal use. The vehicle is usually a luxury car or an SUV with a red beacon light and a siren.
• Travel facilities: The ISRO chairman can travel by air or rail for his official duties or personal trips within India or abroad. He can avail first-class or business-class tickets for himself and his family members. He can also use chartered flights or helicopters if required.
• Medical facilities: The ISRO chairman and his family members can avail free medical treatment at any government or empanelled hospital in India or abroad. They can also claim reimbursement for any expenses incurred on medicines or tests.
• Retirement benefits: The ISRO chairman can retire at the age of 65 or after completing five years of service, whichever is earlier . After retirement, he can receive a pension equivalent to 50% of his last drawn basic pay plus dearness allowance . He can also opt for commutation of pension, which means receiving a lump sum amount in exchange for a reduced monthly pension.

Comparison: Director of ISRO Salary with Other Top Officials

The salary of the ISRO chairman may seem impressive, but how does it compare to other top officials in India and abroad? Let us take a look at some examples:

• Prime Minister of India: The prime minister of India is the head of the government and the highest-paid elected official in India. As per the latest revision in 2018, his monthly basic salary is Rs. 2 lakh (US$2,600), which is equal to that of the cabinet ministers. However, he also receives various allowances and perks, such as official residence, vehicle, travel facilities, medical facilities, security cover, etc. His total monthly salary is estimated to be around Rs. 3.5 lakh (US$4,600), which is slightly lower than that of the ISRO chairman.
• President of India: The president of India is the head of the state and the supreme commander of the armed forces. He is also the highest-paid constitutional post in India. As per the latest revision in 2018, his monthly basic salary is Rs. 5 lakh (US$6,600), which is double that of the prime minister and the ISRO chairman. He also receives various allowances and perks, such as official residence, vehicle, travel facilities, medical facilities, security cover, etc. His total monthly salary is estimated to be around Rs. 10 lakh (US$13,200), which is more than double that of the ISRO chairman.
• Chief Justice of India: The chief justice of India is the head of the judiciary and the highest-paid judge in India. As per the latest revision in 2018, his monthly basic salary is Rs. 2.8 lakh (US$3,700), which is higher than that of the prime minister and lower than that of the president. He also receives various allowances and perks, such as official residence, vehicle, travel facilities, medical facilities, security cover, etc. His total monthly salary is estimated to be around Rs. 4 lakh (US$5,300), which is lower than that of the ISRO chairman.
• NASA Administrator: The NASA administrator is the head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the national space agency of the United States. He is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for a term of four years. As per the latest data in 2020, his annual salary is $219,200 (Rs. 1.64 crore), which is equivalent to $18,267 (Rs. 13.7 lakh) per month. He also receives various benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans, life insurance, etc. His total monthly salary is estimated to be around $20,000 (Rs. 15 lakh), which is more than three times that of the ISRO chairman.

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Conclusion

The ISRO chairman is one of the most prestigious and influential positions in India. He leads a team of thousands of scientists and engineers who work on various space missions and projects that benefit the nation and humanity. He also represents India in various international forums and collaborations related to space exploration and research.

The salary of the ISRO chairman reflects his status and responsibility as a top official in India. He earns a decent amount of money that enables him to live a comfortable and dignified life. However, his salary is not comparable to some other top officials in India or abroad, who earn much more than him.

The ISRO chairman’s salary may not be a motivating factor for him to pursue his career in space science and technology. Rather, he may be driven by his passion for innovation and excellence, his vision for national development and global cooperation, and his pride for serving his country and humanity.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Q1: Who is S. Somanath?

A1: S. Somanath is the current chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the national space agency of India.

Q2: When was S. Somanath appointed as ISRO chairman?

A2: S. Somanath was appointed as ISRO chairman on January 12, 2022.

Q3: What are the qualifications and achievements of S. Somanath?

A3: S. Somanath has a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering in Kollam and a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. He joined ISRO in 1985 and worked on various launch vehicle design and development projects, such as PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3.

Q4: What are the roles and responsibilities of ISRO chairman?

A4: The ISRO chairman is the statutory head of ISRO and an executive of DOS. He oversees all the activities and operations of ISRO and DOS related to space science and technology. He also advises the government on matters pertaining to space policy and programs.

Q5: What are some of the recent and upcoming missions and projects of ISRO?

A5: Some of the recent and upcoming missions and projects of ISRO are:

• Chandrayaan-3: A lunar exploration mission that aims to land a rover on the south pole of the moon.
• Gaganyaan: A human spaceflight program that aims to send three Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit by 2023.
• Aditya-L1: A solar observation mission that aims to study the sun’s corona and dynamics.