Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) 

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)