Srikumar Banerjee. © BARC

Srikumar Banerjee is the new chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) replacing his eminent predecessor Anil Kakodkar. Banerjee also dons the hat of the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, which comes with the chair. He was till now the director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Banerjee takes charge of the Indian nuclear establishment at a time when India’s nuclear programme is truly evolving, what with the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in place and the country opening itself up to global nuclear commerce. Banerjee will have to look at reinforcements to DAE’s research and development programme, to strengthen the foundation of the structure in such commerce-driven times. His long years at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) should come in handy while he takes new policy stands to trigger change in this direction.

Banerjee is a metallurgical engineer from IIT Kharagpur, is counted among the best names in material science and technology in the country and was awarded the civilian honour Padma Shri in 2005. Here’s hoping he has a fruitful stint at DAE.