Birth & Educations: Born on 15.04.1963, Vellalapalayam, Namakkal Dt, Tamil Nadu; Had B. Sc Agri (1987), M. Sc Agri (Plant Pathology) (1989) and PhD in Plant Pathology (1999) from TNAU, Coimbatore.

Positions hold: Scientist, ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad, ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad, ICAR-SBI, 1991-2000; Senior Scientist & Principal Scientist, 2000-2010; Head, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-SBI, 2010 to 2022; Director, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow 2022 to date

Awards/Honours: Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Scinces, New Delhi, 2016; Hari Om Ashram Trust Award in Crop and Horticultural Sciences for the biennium 2016-17 from ICAR, 2019; Sir T.S. Venkatraman Award for Outstanding Research Contribution in Sugarcane Agriculture for the biennium 2006-2007, 2008; Dr K.C. Mehta  Memorial Award 2023-24, National Academy of Agricultural Scinces, New Delhi, Dr. M. Puttarudriah Memorial Endowment National Award for the best Plant Protection Research in India, 2012; Biotechnology Overseas Associateship from DBT, 2009; M.S. Pavgi Memorial Award 2020, Mundkur Memorial Award 2024, Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi; KS Bhargava Oration Award 2024, Indian Virological Society, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan memorial award, Aligarh Muslim University Centenary Award, 2021; Outstanding Alumini Award, TNAU, 2021; Lifetime Contribution Award, Society for Sugar Research and Promotion, 2022; Sugar Technologists Association of India-Noel Deerr Gold Medals 2000, 2002, 2022; Sugar Technologists Association of India-Silver Medal 2001, 2023; Vice-President, Society for Sugarcane Research and Development, Coimbatore, 2015-17 & 2021-23; Member, Pathology Section of International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Mauritius, 2013-19; Principal Investigator, AICRP on Sugarcane (Pathology), 2011 onwards, Chief Editor, Indian Phytopathology 2023-26.

Fellow: Indian Phytopathological Society 2012; Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology 2013; National Academy of Biological Sciences, 2013; Indian Virological Society 2014; Society for Sugar Research and Promotion, 2019; Society for Sugarcane Research and Development 2020; Indian Mycological Society, 2024; Associate Fellow, Sugar Technologists Association of India.

Research Areas: Sugarcane Pathology, Molecular Plant Pathology, host-pathogen interactions, Molecular diagnosis