Former ISRO Chairman and eminent space scientist Dr S Somanath will serve as the Chief Guest at the inaugural session of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) 71st National Conference, scheduled from November 28 to 30 at the Parade Ground in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The event will see the participation of more than 1,500 student delegates from across the country.
Dr. Somanath, who led ISRO between January 2022 and January 2025, is widely celebrated for steering India’s space programme through several landmark achievements, including the historic Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing, the Aditya-L1 solar mission, the XPOSAT launch, and advancements in the INSAT series. He was instrumental in progressing the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV-LEX), the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), and strengthening India’s space policy along with boosting collaborations with private space startups.
ABVP National General Secretary Dr. Virendra Singh Solanki said, “Dr. S. Somanath will address the delegates during the inaugural session of ABVP’s 71st National Conference on 28 November in the sacred land of Uttarakhand. His contributions in elevating Indian science and space research to the global stage are exemplary. His guidance at this national conference will provide new direction and inspiration to young minds across the country in the fields of science, research and innovation.”
