National and International positions held by MSS
26/10/2023
Positions Held
1. Teacher, Researcher and research administrator at the Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack and at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (1954-72).
2. Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (1972-79).
3. Principal Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (1979-80).
4. Acting Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India. (April-June, 1980).
5. Member (Agriculture, Rural Development, Science and Education) Planning Commission, Government of India (June 1980-April 1982).
6. Director General, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Los Banos, Philippines, (April 1982-January 1988).
7. Chairman, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (1989 onwards).
8. UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology (1994 onwards).
9. Chairman, National Commission on Farmers, Government of India (2004-06).
10. President, Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs (2002-2007).
11. President, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2005-07).
12. Member, National Advisory Council, Government of India (2010-2012).
13. Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) (2007-2013).
14. Honorary Chair on Sustainable Development of the Indira Gandhi National Open University.
15. Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) (2007-2013).
16. Member, National Advisory Council (2010-12).
17. Founder Chairman of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation established with the funds associated with the World Food Prize.
18. UNESCO-Cousteau Professor in Ecotechnology for Asia.
19. Adjunct Professor in the field of Ecotechnology – Centre for Advanced Study in Botany, University of Madras.
20. Chairman, CPR Environment Education Centre.
21. Chairman, Advisory Committee consistituted by the Ministry of External Affairs to assist Myanmar and Afghanistan.
Honorary Positions in International Committees/ Organisations
1. Vice Chairman, Technical Advisory Committee to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (1971-77).
2. Vice Chairman, Protein-Calorie Advisory group of United Nations, (1972-77).
3. Chairman, Committee of the Whole, UN Conference on Desertification, Nairobi (1977).
4. Chairman, U.N. Advisory Committee on Science and Technology for Development (1980-83).
5. President, International Federation of Agricultural Research Systems for Development (IFARD) (1976-1983).
6. President, International Bee Research Association (IBRA) (1978-1990).
7. Independent Chairman, FAO Council (1981-1985).
8. Member, Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, Tropical Diseases Research, World Health Organisation (1983-1985).
9. Chairman, Governing Board, CAB International (1991-94).
10. Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large of the Cornell University, United States of America (1989-95).
11. Trustee of the Ford Foundation (1989-97).
12. Chairman of the Global Hunger Project (1994-2000).
13. Founder Chairman of the Trustees of the Iwokrama International Centre for the Sustainable Management of Rainforests, Guyana (1992-99).
14. Member, China International Council for Sustainable Development (1992-2002).
15. Chairman, Genetic Resources Policy Committee of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (1994-2002).
16. Founder-Trustee, Biobliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt.
17. Chairman, High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on Food Security (CFS), Rome (2011-13).
Honorary Positions in organizations devoted to Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development
1. Founder Member and later Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Council for Research on Agro-forestry (1977-1982).
2. Founder-Chairman, Society for the Promotion of Wasteland Development, India (1982-86).
3. Chairman, Advisory Panel on Environment, Forestry and Food Security of the World Commission on Environment and Development (1984-1986).
4. Trustee, World Resources Institute (1985-1994).
5. Chairman, Editorial Advisory Panel for the World Resources Report (1986-1998).
6. Trustee, Better World Society (1986-1992).
7. Honorary Vice-President, World Wild Life Fund International (1985-1987).
8. President, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (1984-1990).
9. President, International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (1990-1993).
10. President, World Wide Fund for Nature-India (1989-1996).
11. Chairman, Management Council, National Institute for Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore (2001-13).
12. Chairman, Board of Trustees, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi (2003 onwards).