News: The government has reconstituted the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to include T V Somanathan, the new Cabinet Secretary, and Manoj Govil, the newly appointed Expenditure Secretary.
About Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established in August 1948 within the Department of Scientific Research later the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was set up on August 3, 1954.
- The AEC is responsible for formulating policies for the Department of Atomic Energy.
- The Secretary to the Government of India in the DAE serves as the ex-officio chairman of the AEC.
- Other members of the Commission are appointed annually based on the recommendation of the AEC chairman and with the Prime Minister’s approval.
Reconstitution of the AEC
- The reconstituted AEC has Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, as its Chairman.
- Ex-officio members include:
- T.V. Somanathan (Cabinet Secretary)
- Manoj Govil (Expenditure Secretary)
- Pankaj Kumar Mishra (Member, Finance, appointed last year)
- Ajit Doval (National Security Adviser)
- Pramod Kumar Mishra (Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister)
- Vikram Misri (Foreign Secretary)
- Vivek Bhasin (Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre)
- Other members comprise prominent former officials:
- M.R. Srinivasan and Anil Kakodkar (former AEC chairpersons)
- P. Rama Rao (former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology)
- Ravi B. Grover (former Principal Adviser, DAE)
- K. Kasturirangan (former Chairman, Space Commission)
