Sekhar Basu

Sekhar Basu
Secretary Department of Atomic Energy
In office
October 23, 2015 – to date
Former Director Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
In office
June 19, 2012 – February 23, 2016
Personal details
Born (1952-09-20) September 20, 1952[1]
Muzaffarpur,Bihar, India
Nationality Indian
Residence Mumbai, India
Alma mater

Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai

BARC Training School
Profession Mechanical Engineering
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Waste Management
Known for Nuclear Waste Management
Reprocessing facilities
Nuclear Submarine Propulsion
Portfolio Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy,[2]
Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission of India
Former Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre[3]
Awards Indian Nuclear Society (INS) Award (2002)
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Award (2006 and 2007)

Sekhar Basu is a nuclear scientist and is currently the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)[4].  Prior to his assumption of charge as Secretary, DAE, he has served as the Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)[5], India’s premier multi-disciplinary R&D centre. He has also worked as the Project Director of Nuclear Submarine Programme and later as the Chief Executive of the Nuclear Recycle Board in the same institute[6].  Sekhar Basu has played major role in establishing India as a lead country in various domains of nuclear sciences and engineering.

Education and Career

Conceptual drawing of Arihant 1

Sekhar Basu did his schooling from Ballygunge Government High School, Kolkata[7] and graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, University of Mumbai in 1974[8].

After completion of one year of BARC Training School programme in nuclear science and engineering, he took up the responsibility of the development of nuclear submarine propulsion plant and built the land based prototype at Kalpakkam from scratch[9]. He continues to guide the Indian nuclear propulsion programme for the sea-going versions.

He had also been proactively engaged in the design, development, construction and operation of nuclear recycle plants at Tarapur, Maharashtra and Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, involving reprocessing and nuclear waste management[10].  His efforts are credited with bringing perfection in technology, which provided major boost to the Indian nuclear power programme.

Augmentation of Nuclear Power in India

Sekhar Basu has accelerated the pace of Nuclear Power deployment in India. In May 2017, the Government of India has given approval to DAE’s plan for construction of 10 Pressurized heavy-water reactors (PHWRs) and 2 Pressurized water reactors (PWRs)[11]. This move has significantly augmented the nuclear power generation capacity and India has taken up simultaneous construction of 21 reactors[12]. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam is in advanced stage of commissioning[13]. 

Sekhar Basu has been instrumental in setting up the Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle Facility (FRFCF), which along with the PFBR technology is said to usher India into the second stage of nuclear power programme. Under his supervision, DAE has initiated actions for multi-fold rise in uranium exploration and mining in India.   

He has overseen the launch of various important projects of the Department of Atomic Energy including the commercial power production the second 1000 MWe nuclear reactor of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant[14]. The construction of two more nuclear power plants, KKNPP Units 3&4, of the same capacity has been started in June 2017[15].

Thrust to Healthcare and Societal Applications of radiation

Sekhar Basu has contributed significantly to non-power applications of nuclear technology such as use of irradiation in the areas of healthcare, food preservation and urban waste management. Under his supervision, construction/up-gradation of six hospitals has been initiated for serving about 1.5 Lakh new patients every year. Major thrust has been imparted for the development of indigenous cancer care drugs.

In May, 2017, under the supervision of Sekhar Basu, a Litchi Treatment Plant has been set up at the National Litchi Research Centre, Mushahari, in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. The plant, based on the technology developed at BARC, can preserve Litchi for 60 days and has opened new export avenues.

He has supervised setting up of first plant in India to treat 100 tons/day sludge and produce manure using a fully automatic process at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The plant uses radiation technology to hygienise the sludge reliably and affordably and protects health and environment. Addition of useful microorganisms to the hygienised sludge can convert it to value added manure.

Contributions to Strategic and Mega-Science Projects

Mega science projects involving high energy Superconducting Accelerators, Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO), International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) have got major boost under the leadership of Sekhar Basu. While pursuing basic research in science and engineering, he is currently pursuing enrichment and other strategic programmes on priority. 

Societal Outreach Initiatives

Sekhar Basu has strengthened the public outreach activities for spreading awareness about the technologies fostered by DAE among the general public. On 26th January 2017, on the occasion of Republic Day (India), he launched the maiden campaign of DAE on the popular micro-blogging platform Twitter. In sync with the Startup India Skill India programme, he has put special thrust on deliverables for making spin-off technologies available for emerging entrepreneurs across the country.

Professional Affiliations, Awards and Honours

He has several publications to his credit and has been conferred Indian Nuclear Society Award 2002 and DAE Awards in 2006 and 2007. He is also a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT). He has been awarded Honoris Causa Doctorate degrees by 8 universities and was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2014.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Press Information Bureau Oct 23, 2015, 04:44 PM IST. "Sekhar Basu Writeup - Press Information Bureau" (PDF). Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  2. ↑ BARC February 23, 2016, 11.13 AM IST. "Dr. S. Basu Chairman and Secretary DAE". Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  3. ↑ "Sekhar Basu Director BARC". Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Dr Sekhar Basu takes charge as Chairman, AEC and Secretary, DAE". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  5. ↑ "Sekhar Basu Director BARC". Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Sekhar Basu".
  7. ↑ "Padma Shri Award for Shri Sekhar Basu, Director, BARCBARC" (PDF). Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Padma Shri Award for Shri Sekhar Basu, Director, BARC" (PDF). BARC. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Dr Sekhar Basu" (PDF). Press Information Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Dr Sekhar Basu" (PDF). Press Information Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Government Approves Mega-Project for 10 Indigenous Reactors | Department of Atomic Energy". dae.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  12. ↑ "PIB's Press Release on Cabinet's decision to transform domestic nuclear industry | Department of Atomic Energy". dae.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  13. ↑ "BHAVINI :: Welcomes You". www.bhavini.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  14. ↑ "PIB - DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY" (PDF). Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Year End review: Department of Atomic Energy". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
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