# G. D. Yadav

Ganapati D. Yadav, NAE (US), FNAI (US), FTWAS, FNA, FASc, FNASc, FNAE, FRSC (UK), FIChemE (UK), FICS, FIIChE (born 14 September 1952), is one of India’s most prolific academicians, leading researchers, educators, professional leaders, innovators, and policymakers. He has made impactful contributions across diverse research domains, including industrial sustainability, green hydrogen, decarbonization, green chemistry and engineering, catalysis science & engineering, biomass valorization (including waste), carbon dioxide refineries, the circular economy, chemical engineering, biochemical engineering & biotechnology, and process technologies. He holds an impeccable record of having 136 patents, over 570 peer-reviewed papers, supervision of 260 graduate students, numerous industrial consultations, and technology transfers. His leadership in academia, professional bodies, and industry engagement is both unparalleled and deeply inspiring. A rare polymath, he has earned numerous awards, accolades, and recognitions for his multifaceted achievements.
Yadav served as the founding Vice Chancellor (equivalent to President in the U.S. academic system) of the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai—formerly UDCT (University Department/Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Mumbai, established on 1 October 1933)—for a record 10.5 years, from May 2009 to November 2019, being the most successful leaders. During his tenure, he held the prestigious titles of R.T. Mody Distinguished Professor and Tata Chemicals Darbari Seth Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Innovation, setting numerous benchmarks for the institution. A poet and author in English and Marathi, Yadav also composed ICT’s university song. He remains deeply engaged with Sanskrit, the Vedas, philosophy, scriptures, Marathi and English literature, and etymology, blending ancient wisdom with modern science. He is a powerful orator and communicator. His legacy is well-documented through lectures, panel discussions, and interviews featured in print and electronic media, along with documentaries on YouTube that highlight his life and contributions.
ICT, a Deemed-to-be University recognized by the MHRD (now Department of Education, Govt. of India) and University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, on September 12, 2008, was granted Elite Status and designated as a Centre of Excellence by the Maharashtra State Assembly on 20 April 2012, placing it on par with IITs, IISc, and IISERs, having the retirement age of 65 for its faculty and also as Category I institute on February 10, 2018 by the MHRD due to his leadership.

## Growth of ICT

Although relatively low-profile for the general public and media, ICT has made significant contributions to India’s scientific and industrial landscape, producing 19 Padma awardees—3 Padma Vibhushan, 8 Padma Bhushan, and 8 Padma Shri recipients—and over 700 first- and second-generation industrialists whose cumulative contributions account for more than 8% of India’s GDP and is held in high esteem by academia, government and industry at large. It is produced several billionaires in India and its alumni are in who’s who in different walks of life. In 2016, Yadav was conferred the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honor, by the President of India for his exceptional contributions to science and engineering. Under his visionary leadership, ICT expanded its reach by establishing two additional campuses and also was granted Category I status by the UGC:
* ICT-IOC Bhubaneswar, fully supported by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., a first-of-its-kind initiative in independent India.
* ICT Marathwada, Jalna, fully funded by the Government of Maharashtra.
This expansion has strengthened ICT’s brand value and his standing as one of the tallest national leaders in education, research, and industry collaboration.
Since April 2022, Yadav has been serving as a National Science Chair (Mode I) of the Science and Engineering Research Board (now merged into the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, ANRF), under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. This is a rare and prestigious honor awarded to superannuated scientists who continue to make significant contributions to research, technology development, and innovation. Notably, he is the first engineer, specifically a chemical engineer at that, to be appointed to this position. In January 2025, he was conferred the prestigious Bhatnagar Fellowship by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to sustainable technologies. This lifetime honor celebrates his pioneering advancements in energy transition, net-negative technologies, green hydrogen, decarbonization, climate resilience, and the circular economy. His visionary research continues to shape strategies for a sustainable future, addressing critical challenges in global energy and environmental systems.
His extensive engagements span academic institutions, industry associations, professional societies, leading academies worldwide, and policymaking bodies at both the State and Central Government levels.

## Connection with Industry and Boards

He currently serves as an Independent Director on the boards of eight listed chemical companies: Godrej Industries, Clean Science & Technology, Meghmani Organics, Bhageria Industries, Astec Lifesciences, Dorf Ketal Chemicals India, Supriya Lifesciences and Sharp Mint. demonstrating his live connectivity with industry. Previously, he served on the boards of Aarti Industries and Survival Technologies. He is also a director of the Rayat Centenary Innovation & Incubation Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation by a college. Many of his students have become successful entrepreneurs, a testament to his influence as both an industry-friendly academician and an academic-industrial creator. It is no surprise that he is revered as a pioneering thought leader bridging academia and industry.

## Recognitions

He is among the few Indians inducted as an International Member of the US National Academy of Engineering (2022), the world’s most prestigious engineering honor, awarded to only 18 living Indians at the time of his election. Furthermore, he became only the second Indian to be elected a Fellow of the US National Academy of Inventors (2022).
Many of Yadav’s 136 granted patents and consultations have been pivotal in advancing clean energy and green chemical manufacturing processes. He is a key figure in India’s drive toward global environmental leadership, working to achieve net-zero goals and foster climate resilience. Through his exceptional leadership in higher education, he has played a vital role in preparing India’s technological workforce for a knowledge-driven, green economy.
Over his illustrious career, he has delivered more than 1,000 invited lectures, seminars, award orations, and special lectures, and has participated in numerous panel discussions at leading institutes, prestigious conferences, symposia, and industries worldwide. A highly sought-after speaker, he remains a prominent voice at major scientific and industrial forums across India.
Following his successful tenure, the Chancellor Dr. R.A. Mashelkar appointed him Emeritus Professor of Eminence at ICT Mumbai for life. In this capacity, he continues to lead an active research group, teach, and collaborate on industrial projects.
His recognition includes over 150 national and international honors, awards, prizes, fellowships, editorships, and Lifetime Achievement Awards from esteemed professional bodies and industrial organizations. The Stanford University surveys (2020–2024) of the world’s top 2% scientists consistently ranked him within the top 0.2% of Indian scientists. Remarkably, he has been recognized as the number one scientist in India in the Physical Chemistry category and ranked among the top 70 globally for five consecutive years, underscoring his enduring influence.
Yadav’s research productivity is unmatched. He has supervised 115 doctoral and 153 master's theses as a single supervisor from the same institute—a national record for any professor in India. Additionally, he has mentored 48 postdoctoral fellows and numerous summer fellows and research staff. His prolific output includes 570 original research papers, 136 granted national and PCT patents, 3 books, an h-index of 71, an i10 index of 370, and over 200,00 citations across journals, patents, books, and monographs (Google Scholar).
He still remains actively engaged in mentoring doctoral students, securing patents, publishing research, providing consultancy, and transferring technologies to industry, backed by several industry-sponsored projects and above all as a policy maker in many government committees .

## Early life and education

Yadav was born in the small village of Arjunwada in Radhanagari Tehsil of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, on Ganesh Chaturthi. Known as Yogesh among close friends, he rose to prominence through diligence, creativity, and self-belief, despite a humble rural background and schooling in a vernacular Marathi medium. Yadav credits his parents for recognizing his potential early and supporting his independent decisions, as long as he shared his life’s milestones with them.
His village school, which offered classes only up to grade 4, operated from village temples and was frequently interrupted by devotees. Later, a basic school building with three classrooms and five teachers accommodated students up to grade 7. Sharing his classroom with older students, Yadav was inspired by his 3rd-grade teacher, Mr. Raghunath Madhav Kulkarni, who encouraged versatility and focus. After topping the district in the vernacular final exam, Yadav joined Swami Vivekanand High School in Shelewadi, walking barefoot 5 km daily. The school, lacking its own building, conducted classes in a dilapidated house. In 9th grade, Yadav was asked to secretly correct answer sheets for 8th-grade exams due to a teacher shortage, a secret he kept, as promised, to the Head Master. He later transferred to Private High School, Kolhapur, where he excelled under the mentorship of Mr. Digambar Ganesh Gangatirkar, who encouraged him to attempt the IIT entrance exam. An athlete and scholar, Yadav excelled in wrestling, volleyball, kabaddi, and kho-kho, as cricket, "the national religion of India," was unaffordable to villagers and lacked coaches. In his 11th grade, he led the volleyball team, won high-jump competitions, and topped the SSC exam, earning several scholarships, including the National Merit Scholarship.
Though selected for IIT through JEE, Yadav chose to pursue Chemical Engineering at UDCT (now ICT), Mumbai, a four-year program more affordable than IIT’s five-year course. At UDCT, he was inspired by the legendary Prof. Man Mohan Sharma,[35] a Cambridge University Ph.D. and Fellow of the Royal Society, London [36], and a revered academic, policymaker, and consultant. Under Sharma's mentorship, Yadav conducted pioneering doctoral research in heterogeneous reactions, including gas absorption with chemical reactions and phase transfer catalysis (PTC). His work was both theoretical and practical, with parts commercialized. Notably, he was the first Indian to publish on PTC, and the Yadav-Sharma theory of solid-liquid PTC remains influential.

## Initial Research

Yadav joined Loughborough University (of Technology ), England, as a Leverhulme Overseas Visiting Fellow (1980–81). To broaden his research scope, he ventured into new areas, working on oil blob mechanics in porous media with Geoffrey Mason and binary chromatography with Bryan A. Buffham. His work led to five seminal publications. Upon returning to India in 1982, he briefly worked on a Bombay Oil Industries-sponsored project before moving to the University of Waterloo (1982–86) as a postdoctoral researcher with F.A.L. Dullien, Ioannis (John) Chatzis, and Ian Macdonald. His work there made significant contributions to enhanced oil recovery, multiphase flow visualization, 2D/3D modelling, and percolation processes. He also collaborated with Donald Scot on biomass pyrolysis modelling. Interestingly, Yadav revisited biomass research decades later in the 2000s, focusing on converting waste biomass into value-added chemicals, a critical area for sustainability. Although he received postdoctoral offers from UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he chose to remain at Waterloo. During this time, he also served as Vice President of the Indo-Canada Association in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Since returning to India as a Reader (somewhat equivalent to Associate Professor) at UDCT in 1986, Yadav has made transformative contributions to catalytic science, green chemistry, biotechnology, and energy engineering. His pioneering work introduced green chemistry practices in India, leading to pollution-free, patented technologies adopted by industry. He has excelled in designing novel catalytic materials and harnessing the interplay of pores, particles, and interfaces to develop clean, efficient processes.
Yadav’s innovations span enhanced oil recovery, coal gasification, net-zero technologies, circular economies, green hydrogen, CO2 refineries, and biomass valorization. Notably, with financial support from the ONGC Energy Centre, he conceptualized a thermochemical Cu-Cl water-splitting process to produce hydrogen at less than $1/kg for 100 TPD, a groundbreaking achievement that preceded many similar claims. Unlike the mainstream reliance on electrolysis for green hydrogen, his process has garnered global attention for its potential economic feasibility.

## Academic and Leadership Profile

Yadav began his academic journey as an Associate Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at UDCT (1976–1980) while pursuing his Ph.D. (Tech.) under the guidance of Man Mohan Sharma, FRS, which he completed in 1980. He specialized in undergraduate chemical engineering laboratory instruction and developed a demonstration experiments laboratory under Sharma's mentorship. His innovative approach resulted in the publication of Demonstration Experiments in Chemical Engineering (1982), co-authored with V.G. Panagarkar and K. Niranjan, by the Chemical Engineering Education Development Centre, IIT Madras. These experiments became a cornerstone of the chemical engineering curriculum at ICT, with over 70 demonstrations conducted annually. Later, Yadav established Reliance Industry sponsored Dhirubhai Ambani Hall of Fame at ICT to highlight the importance of the chemical industry and engineering. He was responsible for establishing and heading two centres of excellence when ICT was part of the University of Mumbai during its sesqui-centennial jubilee celebration year and was their first head: University of Mumbai, Centre for Green Technology (part of UGC University with Potential for Excellence) and University of Mumbai, Centre for Nano Sciences and Technology (Special grant by the Govt. of India for the sesqui-centennial year recognition in 2005-6).
One of Yadav’s most transformative contributions to academia is the establishment of two new campuses: ICT–IndianOil Campus Bhubaneswar (ICT-IOC) and ICT–Marathwada Jalna Campus (ICT-MARJ), both offering pioneering programs with a trimester co-op system. Under his leadership, ICT attained Category I status from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on February 12, 2018, enabling it to expand into a multi-campus institution. Yadav’s strategic alliance with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) secured INR 500 crore under its CSR initiative to establish ICT-IOC in Bhubaneswar. This campus was inaugurated on March 18, 2018, by Hon’ble Shri Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, in the presence of other distinguished dignitaries. Similarly, on May 4, 2018, the foundation stone for ICT-MARJ was laid in Siraswadi, Jalna, on a 203-acre site, with a sanctioned budget of INR 397 crore from the Maharashtra State Cabinet.
Both campuses introduced the Integrated M. Tech. in Chemical Engineering (i-M. Tech.), a first-of-its-kind, five-year program blending academic rigor with industrial exposure. The program features 15 trimesters (9 on campus and 6 in industry) and provides students with interdisciplinary expertise, offering a major in Chemical Engineering and minors in areas like Petrochemicals, Polymers, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotechnology. It emphasizes entrepreneurship through research projects and start-up promotion, while two years of industrial training ensures affordability and industry readiness.
Yadav also initiated the Executive M. Tech. (e-M. Tech.) program in collaboration with IIT Kharagpur and expanded Ph.D. offerings with state-of-the-art facilities supported by IOCL.
On April 3, 2018, ICT achieved prestigious rankings under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), securing a place among the top 10 engineering institutes, 19th among universities, and 4th in pharmacy institutes, solidifying its status as a leading institution in India.
Domestically, Yadav has held several leadership roles at ICT Mumbai: Director (2009–2011), Vice Chancellor, and R.T. Mody Distinguished Professor, Tata Chemicals Darbari Seth Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Innovation (2009–2019). He also served as Dean of Research (2005–2009) and Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering (2006–2009), among others.
Yadav played a pivotal role, with the full support of the then Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the alumni association, in securing the renowned Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT) Nagpur, a full fledged State University status as Laxminarayan Innovation Technological University (LITU), which was an integral part of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur (RTMN) University. Currently, he serves as the Chair of the Board of Governors at LITU.
Yadav’s career exemplifies excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and administration. In 2022, he was appointed Science Chair (Mode I) by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Since 2019, he has served as Emeritus Professor of Eminence at ICT Mumbai, a lifetime honor. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada; Conjoint Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia; Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati; and Distinguished Visiting Professor at SOA University, Bhubaneswar. Previously, he held the position of Adjunct Professor at RMIT University, Australia.
Globally, Yadav has held appointments such as Johansen Crosby Visiting Chair Professor of Chemical Engineering at Michigan State University (2001–2002), Distinguished Visiting Scholar for Purdue University’s Asian Initiative (2007), and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Lunghwa University of Science and Technology, Taiwan (2007), Senior Visiting Fellow at Loughborough University, UK (1990), and Leverhulme Overseas Visiting Fellow at Loughborough University (1980–1981).
Through these roles, Yadav has significantly advanced scientific knowledge and fostered international collaboration. His expertise and leadership continue to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers globally.

## Service to Professional Bodies as President
### Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers

Yadav's most monumental contribution to any professional body in India is his work with the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE), established on May 18, 1947, by the legendary Dr. Hira Lal Roy of Calcutta University (later Jadavpur University. At the time, IIChE was facing numerous challenges, including financial difficulties, lack of effective leadership, and staff working on minimal salaries. Yadav’s contributions to IIChE surpassed those of anyone else in the institute’s storied history, revitalizing the organization and restoring it to its current prominence. Such a transformation has no parallel in any professional society worldwide.
After assuming the role of President in 2001, becoming one of the youngest individuals to hold the position, Yadav worked tirelessly, meeting with numerous industrialists and philanthropists. He secured additional funding to support the three existing memorial awards and introduced 18 new Chemcon Distinguished Speaker (CDS) Awards. Additionally, he established 10 awards for students pursuing Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering in India, as well as the Best Ph.D. Thesis Award, Best Master’s Thesis Award, Sports Competition Award, Awards for Chemical Engineering graduates who joined the Indian Administrative Services, Best Teacher Award, Most Versatile Undergraduate Student Awards, and the Best Home Paper (Design Paper) Award.
The CDS Awards were named after several influential professionals in India, each with specific objectives and selection criteria. The creation of 52 awards and prizes, along with the selection of awardees from around the world over the years, has significantly elevated the prestige of IIChE and enhanced the impact of the annual Chemical Engineering Congress (CHEMCON), held every year from December 27-30.
One notable feature of CHEMCON is the celebration of Dhirubhai Ambani Commemoration Day on December 28, which Yadav initiated in 2004 with full support from Reliance Industries Ltd.

#### IIChE Award Endowments

The list of awards he created is as follows:
1. Dr. Burjor P. Godrej Life Time Achievement Award for Serving the Profession of Chemical Engineering
2. Dr. K. Anji Reddy Innovator of the Year Award
3. Kvaerner Powergas Professor N.R. Kamath Memorial Lecture
4. The Chemical Weekly’s Best Paper Published in Indian Chemical Engineers
5. Lupin Industries Best UG Chemical Engineering Teacher Endowment
6. Professor Paritosh Sen Gupta Award for the Best IIChE Employee of the Year
7. Dhirubhai Ambani Orator of the Year Award

#### B: Chemcon Distinguished Speaker (CDS) Medal and Award Endowments

8. RPG Life Science Padma Vibhushan Prof. M.M. Sharma Medal and CDS Award (For Bhatnagar Prize Winners and INSA Fellows)
9. Ashland (Hercules/BetzDearBorn) Bharat Ratna Prof. C.N.R. Rao Medal and CDS Award (Award of Rs. 50,000 and gold medal)
10. Asian Paints Padma Bhushan Dr. R.A. Mashelkar Medal and CDS Award (for Innovators and Science Leaders; Award of Rs. 10,000 and gold medal)
11. CSIR-NCL’s Professor K. Venkataraman Chemcon Distinguished Speaker Award (Biennial)
12. Hetero Drugs Prof. G.S. Laddha Medal and CDS Award
13. Chemical Weekly’s Padmashri Dr. G.P. Kane Medal and CDS Award
14. Deepak Group’s Padma Bhushan Prof. L.K. Doraiswamy Medal and CDS Award
15. Perkin Elmer’s Padmabhushan Prof. R. Kumar Medak CDS Award Endowment (Biennial)
16. CSIR-IICT-Avon’s Padmashri Dr. G.S. Sidhu Medal and CDS Award
17. Alkyl Amines Padma Bhushan Prof. B.D. Tilak Medal and CDS Award (biennial)
18. Themis Medicare Medal and CDS Award (Biennial)
19. Sartorius India Medal and CDS Award ( Biennial)
20. UPL Smt. Sandra R. Shroff Medal and CDS Award
21. Hikal Medal and CDS Award
22. CSIR-CSMCRI Medal and CDS Award
23. CSIR-CLRI-Padma Vibhushan Dr. Y. Nayudamma Medal and CDS Award
24. CSIR-NEERI Medal and CDS Award

#### C: Awards for Students

25. Dr. A.V. Rama Rao Foundation’s Best Ph.D. Thesis and Research in Chemical Engineering/Technology
26. Artemis Biotech Best Masters Thesis in Chemical Engineering/Technology
27. Dr. B.V. Raju Foundation Hyderabad’s Donation for Dr. B.V. Raju Endowment
28. The Ambuja Cement Best Student Chapter Award
29. Pidilite Best Student Chapter Award Endowment
30. Ambuja Cements Best Home Paper Awards (3 in number)
31. Ambuja Cement’s Young Researchers Award for Postgraduate Studies in India (10 in
32. The Chemical Weekly Prize for Best Research Paper Accepted/Published in a High Impact Factor International Journal by an Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Student (Two prize)
33. Mr. Manhar H. Shukla Prizes for Best Technical Papers Presented During the Technical Sessions at Chemcon (Two prizes)
34. Professor G.D. Yadav and Dr. (Mrs) Vasanti G.D. Yadav Award for the Most Versatile Undergraduate Chemical Engineering/Technology Students in India (one male and. One female)
35. IIChE Students Sports Festival Endowment by The Mariwala Trust
36. Excel Industries Ltd Award for First Ranker Chemical Engineering Graduate in IAS Examination
37. VICAL award for best paper in Chemcon
A total of 52 awards have been instituted for IIChE—the highest by any President of a professional body. These prestigious awards, presented annually at CHEMCON in December, honor outstanding professionals worldwide.

### Indian Chemical Society (ICS)

Yadav was elected President of the Society in 2020 for a three-year term and re-elected in 2023 for a second term. Established on May 9, 1924, the Society is currently celebrating its Centennial Jubilee Year. Under his dynamic leadership, Yadav has made remarkable contributions that have transformed the Society, driving significant progress and growth.
To commemorate this milestone, the Society has organized a series of events nationwide, culminating in a grand celebration in Mumbai on January 28–29, 2025, where distinguished industry leaders were honored. Yadav has also been instrumental in establishing numerous endowments and awards, further enriching the Society’s legacy.

#### ICS Endowments and Awards

1. Clean Science & Technology Bharat Ratna Prof. C.N.R. Rao ICS Centennial Jubilee Award
2. Pidilite Industries Padma Vibhushan Prof. M.M. Sharma ICS Centennial Jubilee Award
3. Oriental Aromatics Dr. Sukh Dev ICS Centennial Jubilee Award
4. Aether Industries Padma Vibhushan Dr. R.A. Mashelkar ICS Centennial Jubilee Award
5. Dr. A.V. Rama Rao ICS Centennial Jubilee Award for Innovation in Industrial Research
6. L.N. Mathur–Asima Chatterjee ICS Centennial Jubilee Award for Women Scientists
7. Colour Publications R.V. Raghavan ICS Centennial Jubilee Award for Creativity by Ph.D. Students in Colleges (affiliated or autonomous) (10 awards)
8. Chemical Weekly’s Annual Awards for Ph.D. Students (100 awards)
9. Prof. G.D. Yadav and Dr. (Mrs.) Vasanti G. Yadav Award for Excellence in Research by Ph.D. Students (2 awards)
10. Meghmani Organics Best ICS Branch Award
11. Professor Animesh Chakravorty Young Scientist Award for Inorganic Chemistry (2 awards)
12. Prof. R.S. Varma Memorial Award
13. Vijay Bal Samant Award for Biotechnology
14. Indo-Amines Vijay Palkar ICS Centennial Jubilee Award
15. D.M. Trivedi ICS Centennial Jubilee Award for Polymers and Materials Chemistry
16. Prof Haldar ICS Centennial Jubilee Award for Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry
17. Bhumista Pravin Saxena and Abha Saxena ICS Centennial Jubilee Award for Best Student Chapter
The last five awards were instituted spontaneously during the valedictory function of 100 Years of Chemistry on January 29, 2025, in Mumbai—a testament to his charismatic leadership, highly regarded in both academia and industry. They highlight the pivotal role of industry-academia collaboration in advancing scientific progress and emphasize the enduring partnership between science and industry, fostering innovation and recognizing excellence in the chemical sciences.

### Catalysis Society of India

He served as the Chairman of the Mumbai Chapter of the Catalysis Society of India, significantly increasing its membership. Later, as the President of the Catalysis Society of India, he facilitated an agreement to transform its bulletin into the journal Catalysis in Green Chemistry and Engineering, published by Begell House, USA. He was conferred with the Prof. S.K. Bhattacharya Eminent Scientist Award in 2007.

### International Societies

He is a member of Commonwealth Chemistry representing Indian Chemical Society. He was actively involved with the Indo-Canadian multi-disciplinary partnership, IC-IMPACTS, a collaboration between seven Indian institutes and three Canadian universities (University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, and University of Toronto), serving as the coordinator for the Institute of Chemical Technology in 2013. He was bestowed with Cross Canada Lecture Tour Award (2012-13) by Canadian Catalysis Society & Canadian Catalysis Foundation, Park Reilly Lecturer, University of Waterloo. and John van Geuns Lecturer, Van’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, He chaired international committee of APCAT-7, the 7th Asia Pacific Congress on Catalysis Societies, held in Mumbai in January 2017. In 2015, he became the founding chair of the India International Chemical Sciences Chapter of the American Chemical Society.

### Editorships

Since 2021, he has been the Associate Editor of Frontiers in Sustainability and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Indian Chemical Society (Elsevier Publication). In 2018, he became the Editor-in-Chief of Catalysis in Green Chemistry and Engineering (Begell Publishers, New York), Co-Editor of the Special Issue on APCAT-7 in Catalysis in Green Chemistry and Engineering, and Co-Editor of Catalysis Today (Special Issue: ‘Catalysis for Sustainable Development, Peace and Prosperity; APCAT-7 papers’). He also co-edited the Clean Technology and Environmental Policy (Special Issue: ‘Catalysis for Sustainable Development; APCAT-7 papers’) in 2018 and a Special Issue of ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering (Catalysis for Sustainable Development, Peace and Prosperity) in 2017. In 2015, he co-edited, along with A. Varma of Purdue University, a Festschrift in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research (ACS) in honor of Prof. D. Ramkrishna (Purdue University). He has been a member of the Editorial Board of Green Chemistry (RSC, UK). Starting in 2013, he has served as an Associate Editor of Current Catalysis (Bentham Science Publishers) and Guest Editor for Catalysis Today (Vol. 207, 2013) on Catalytic Processes for Clean Energy, Waste Minimization, and Green Chemicals (with A.K. Dalai, University of Saskatchewan, and Nicolas Abtzoglou, University of Sherbrooke).
His editorial contributions also include membership on the boards of journals such as the ACS Journal of Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering (2013–18), Advanced Porous Materials (2012–15). Earlier, he was on the editorial board of Current Catalysis (2011–present) and co-edited Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research (Festschrifts for Dr. B.D. Kulkarni in 2009 and Prof. M.M. Sharma in 2007). From 2007 to 2012, he was on the editorial board of Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (Springer, USA), and from 2007 to 2011, on Applied Catalysis A: General (Elsevier). His involvement extends to Catalysis Communications (2006–09), Organic Process Research and Development as a columnist for Literature Highlights (2005–2008), and Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical (2005–2011). From 2002 to 2016, he served on the editorial board of the International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering (Berkeley Press, USA), showcasing his enduring commitment to advancing chemical sciences through scholarly publishing.

## Fellowships
### International Academies

* 2023: Elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), USA, becoming only the second Indian to receive this honor.
* 2023: Conferred the title of Honorary Fellow by the International Society for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability.
* 2023: Appointed as a Member of Commonwealth Chemistry, representing the Indian Chemical Society.
* 2022: Inducted as an International Member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), USA.
* 2013: Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK, and recognized as a Chartered Chemist.
* 2010: Elected as a Fellow of TWAS–The World Academy of Sciences, Trieste, Italy.
* 2007: Elected as a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), UK, and recognized as a Chartered Engineer.
* 2010: Became a Member of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
* 2015: Appointed as the Founding Chair of the ACS–India International Chapter.

### National Fellowships and Presidential Positions

* 2024: President, Centre for Education Growth and Research (CEGR).
* 2023: Honorary Fellow, International Society for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability.
* 2023–25: President, Indian Chemical Society (ICS), during which he created eight new endowment awards.
* 2022: National Science Chair (Mode I), Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB merged with ANRF), DST, Government of India.
* 2022: Honorary Fellow, Biotech Research Society of India.
* 2022: Honorary Member, All India MSME Association.
* 2022: Senior Fellow, Centre for Education Growth and Research.
* 2020–25: President, Indian Chemical Society.
* 2020: Honorary Member, Indian Speciality Chemicals Manufacturers Association (ISCMA).
* 2019–21: Council Member, Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
* 2018: Life Member (Honorary),Indian Speciality Chemicals Manufacturers Association.
* 2010–21: J. C. Bose National Fellowship, DST, Government of India.
* 2017: Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE).
* 2016: Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc).
* 2006: Fellow, Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
* 2003: Fellow, National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI).
* 1999: Fellow, Indian Chemical Society.
* 1997: Member, Indian Membrane Society.
* 2015: Honorary Fellow, Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE).
* 2001: President of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE), established a record 52 awards and endowments with industrial support worth ₹12.5 million, most named after prominent chemical engineers and chemists.
* 2010–25: President, Maharashtra Academy of Sciences
* 2005–07: Vice President, Maharashtra Academy of Sciences.
* 2001: Fellow of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences.
* 1996: Fellow of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE).
Yadav's numerous fellowships and leadership roles highlight his sustained contributions to advancing science, technology, and education on both national and international platforms.

## Major Awards, Honors & Recognitions
### National Awards (2020 onwards)

Yadav has won innumerable awards during his illustrious career. Some of them are as follows:
* 2023: SASTRA-CNR Rao Award for Excellence in Chemistry and Material Science.
* 2023: Platinum Jubilee Award, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE).
* 2023: Global Excellence Award 2023 in the Hydrogen Sector from the Energy and Environment Foundation.
* 2023: Nagarjuna Award by the Hindu Research Foundation.
* 2023: Diamond Jubilee Global Excellence Award, Federation of Industries of India.
* 2022: First Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Medal & Award for an Outstanding Scientist, MIT ADT University, Pune, November 8, 2022.
* 2022:Vocational Excellence Award, Rotary International, Mumbai District.
* 2022: Prof. (Dr.) Gokulanand Mahapatra Memorial Oration Award 2020 by G.N. Mahapatra Foundation, Bhubaneswar.
* 2021: Prof. Jai Krishna Memorial Award, Indian National Academy of Engineering.
* 2021: 31st Professor T. L. Rama Char Memorial Lecture, The Electrochemical Society of India.
* 2020: 60th Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture, Central Power Research Institute Diamond Jubilee Foundation Day, Central Power Research Institute, Bengaluru.
* 2023: Honored at SusChemE 2.0 International Conference and Exhibition on Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Sept 14-16, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.
* 2023: Chairman, Board of Governors, Laxminarayan Innovation Technological University (LITU), Nagpur.
* 2023: Institute Lecture, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, March 21, 2023.
* 2019: Rijhawan Memorial Foundation Day Lecture, CSIR-NML, Jamshedpur.
* 2019: D. Eng. (Hon. Causa): National Institute of Technology, Agartala.
* 2019: Murarka Foundation Award for the Most Productive Professor (Scopus Database, Papers, Patents, Ph.D., Technology Transfer).
* 2019: 50 Innovative International Education Leaders Award, World Innovation Congress
* 2018: Career 360 Award for being one of the top researchers in Chemical Engineering by SCOPUS.
* 2017: Syed Husain Zaheer Medal for Engineering, Indian National Science Academy.
* 2016: Padma Shri (Jan. 26, 2016) by the President of India for exceptional contributions to Science and Engineering.
* 2016: D. Sc. (Hon. Causa): D.Y. Patil University, Kolhapur, April 13, 2016.
* 2016: Loknete Sadashivrao Mandalik Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar, Kolhapur.
* 2016: Karveer Bhushan, Rotary Club of Karveer, Kolhapur for contributions to profession and society.
* 2015: 15th NES Jagadguru Sankaracharya National Eminent Scientist Award
* 2012: Goyal Prize for Applied Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra..
* 2011: IGCW Award for contributions to Green Chemistry in India.
* 2011: Dr. C.V. Raman Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research in Engineering and Technology, IES Bhopal.
* 2007: Maharashtra State Government Republic Day Best Teacher Award.
* 2007: CHEMTECH Foundation’s Award for Outstanding Research and Development.
* 2006: Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Mumbai Institute of Chemical Technology.
* 2005: Anna University National Award for the Most Outstanding Academic, Indian Society for Technical Education.
* 1994: Hindustan Lever Biennial Award for the Most Outstanding Chemical Engineer of the Year by the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers.
* 1999: Herdillia Award for Excellence in Basic Research in Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (1999).
* 1995: VASVIK Foundation Award for Excellence in Research in Chemical Sciences and Technology (1995).

## Lifetime Achievement Awards

* 2024: "Harit Urja Tapaswi" (Green Energy Pioneer) award by Jadhav Guruji Foundation, Kagal, Kolhapur.
* 2024: Lifetime Achievement Award, Chirantan Rasayan Sanstha, Kolkata.
* 2023: Lifetime Achievement Award, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA).
* 2023: Silver Jubilee Orator and Lifetime Achievement Award, Engineers Forum, Nagpur.
* 2023: Lifetime Achievement Award, Association of Chemistry Teachers.
* 2016: Lifetime Achievement Award and Gold Medal, Indian Chemical Council.
* 2013: D.M. Trivedi Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to the Indian Chemical Industry (Education & Research), Indian Chemical Council.
* 2013: Dr. B. P. Godrej Lifetime Achievement Award, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers.

## Personal life

Yadav’s family is highly accomplished, with all members being chemical engineers holding doctorates and credited with patents. He married Vasanti V. Iyer in 1981, and they have two sons, Vikramaditya and Gautam. He resides in Mumbai, India, with his wife, who holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering/Technology.
His eldest son, Vikramaditya Yadav, earned a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo, a Ph.D. from MIT under Greg Stephanopoulos, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard with George Whitesides. He is currently an Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
His younger son, Gautam Yadav, graduated in Chemical & Biological Engineering from Western University, Ontario, obtained a Ph.D. from Purdue University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at City College CUNY. He is now the Chief Technology Officer for Advanced Battery Development at Urban Electric Power (UEP), New York.