K Sivan is a renowned Indian space scientist who has made significant contributions to the country’s space research and exploration. He is popularly known as the Rocket Man of India for his role in developing and launching various rockets and satellites for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He has also served as the Chairman of ISRO and the Secretary of the Department of Space from 2018 to 2022. In this article, we will look at his salary, net worth, career, personal life, and achievements in detail.
K Sivan’s Salary and Net Worth
K Sivan’s monthly salary as the chief of ISRO was around Rs. 2.50 lakhs per annum . His rank was equivalent to that of an IAS or IPS officer in the government. His net worth is estimated to be around Rs. 2.5 crores . He has an ancestral house in Mela Sarakkalvilai, Tamil Nadu, but his current residence is in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Career and Achievements
K Sivan was born on 14 April 1957 in Mela Sarakkalvilai, near Nagercoil, in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. He is the son of a mango farmer and studied in a Tamil medium government school. He was the first graduate from his family . He completed his B.Sc. from South Travancore Hindu College, Nagercoil, and then his B.Tech in aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology in 1980 . He then obtained his M.E. in aerospace engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in 1982 . He joined ISRO in the same year and started working on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) project . He also earned his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, in 2006 .
Sivan has worked on the design and development of various launch vehicles for ISRO, such as PSLV, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) . He is known for his expertise in cryogenic engines, which use liquid hydrogen and oxygen as propellants . He has also been involved in mission planning, mission design, mission integration, and analysis for various ISRO missions .
Sivan was appointed as the director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre on 2 July 2014 . He was conferred Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from Sathyabama University, Chennai, in April 2014 . On 1 June 2015, he became the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre . On 15 January 2018, he took charge as the ninth chairman of ISRO and the secretary of the Department of Space . His tenure was extended by a year till January 2022 .
Under his leadership, ISRO achieved many milestones and accolades. Some of them are:
- Launching Chandrayaan-2, the second lunar exploration mission of India, on 22 July 2019 .
- Launching Cartosat-3, a high-resolution earth observation satellite, along with 13 nanosatellites from the US, on 27 November 2019 .
- Launching GSAT-30, a communication satellite that provides high-quality television, telecommunications, and broadcasting services over India and neighboring countries, on 17 January 2020 .
- Launching PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 mission, which carried Brazil’s first indigenous earth observation satellite along with 18 co-passenger satellites from India and other countries, on 28 February 2021 .
- Launching GSLV-F10/EOS-03 mission, which carried an advanced earth observation satellite that provides near-real-time imaging of large areas at frequent intervals for various applications such as agriculture, forestry, disaster management, etc., on 12 August 2021 .
Sivan has received many awards and honors for his outstanding contributions to the field of space science and technology. Some of them are:
- Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research Award (1999)
- ISRO Merit Award (2007)
- Dr Biren Roy Space Science Award (2011)
- Distinguished Alumnus Award (2013) from Madras Institute of Technology Alumni Association, Chennai
- Tamil Nadu Government’s Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award (2019)
- IEEE Simon Ramo Medal (2020)
Personal Life
K Sivan is married to Malathi Sivan, who is a homemaker. They have two sons, Siddharth Sivan and Sushanth Sivan. Sivan is a humble and simple person who likes to read books and listen to music in his spare time. He is also a religious person who visits temples regularly .
Sivan faced a controversy in January 2021, when the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) registered a complaint against him over allegations of irregularities in recruiting his son in ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, by bypassing norms. However, the matter was not pursued further by the CVC or the government.
Conclusion
K Sivan is a remarkable and inspiring personality who has risen from a humble background to become one of the most respected and influential space scientists in India. He has led ISRO to new heights of excellence and innovation with his vision and dedication. He has also made India proud on the global stage with his achievements and recognition. He is a true role model for the young generation of Indians who aspire to pursue their dreams and passions.
Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q1. What is the full name of K Sivan?
A1. Kailasavadivoo Sivan.
Q2. When and where was K Sivan born?
A2. K Sivan was born on 14 April 1957 in Mela Sarakkalvilai, near Nagercoil, in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.
Q3. What is the educational qualification of K Sivan?
A3. K Sivan has a B.Tech in aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology, an M.E. in aerospace engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
Q4. When did K Sivan join ISRO and what was his first project?
A4. K Sivan joined ISRO in 1982 and started working on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) project.
Q5. What are some of the major projects that K Sivan has worked on or led in ISRO?
A5. Some of the major projects that K Sivan has worked on or led in ISRO are PSLV, GSLV, RLV, Chandrayaan-2, Cartosat-3, GSAT-30, Amazonia-1, and EOS-03.
Q6. What are some of the awards and honors that K Sivan has received for his work?
A6. Some of the awards and honors that K Sivan has received for his work are Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research Award, ISRO Merit Award, Dr Biren Roy Space Science Award, Distinguished Alumnus Award from Madras Institute of Technology Alumni Association, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Government’s Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award, and IEEE Simon Ramo Medal.
Q7. What is the salary and net worth of K Sivan?
A7. According to some sources, K Sivan’s monthly salary as the chief of ISRO was around Rs. 2.50 lakhs per annum and his net worth is estimated to be around Rs. 2.5 crores.
Q8. Who is the wife and children of K Sivan?
A8. K Sivan is married to Malathi Sivan, who is a homemaker. They have two sons, Siddharth Sivan and Sushanth Sivan.
Q9. What are some of the hobbies and interests of K Sivan?
A9. K Sivan likes to read books and listen to music in his spare time. He is also a religious person who visits temples regularly.
Q10. What is the controversy that K Sivan faced in 2021?
A10. K Sivan faced a controversy in January 2021, when the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) registered a complaint against him over allegations of irregularities in recruiting his son in ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, by bypassing norms.