DRDO scientist Ram Narain Agarwal passes away

Current Context : Renowned DRDO missile scientist Ram Narain Agarwal, widely known as the “father of Agni Missiles,” passed away in Hyderabad.

• Dr Agarwal led the country’s ambitious Agni missile programme for over two decades right from its beginning in 1983 as Project Director.
• He was a distinguished Scientist of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and worked on the Agni and other missile programmes alongside Dr Arunachalam and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
• Dr Agarwal played a key role in establishing the re-entry technology, all composite heat shield, onboard propulsion system, guidance and control etc for missiles during a distinguished tenure of 22 years.
• He was conferred the Padma Sri in 1990 and Padma Bhushan in 2000 by the President of India.