Former ISRO Scientist Mylswamy Annadurai to Head Tamil Nadu Curriculum Committee

The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has appointed renowned former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Mylswamy Annadurai as the chairman of the state's school curriculum design committee in Chennai. Annadurai takes over the role from State Planning Commission member Sultan Ahmed Ismail, who stepped down from the position two weeks ago.

The newly restructured committee is tasked with a major overhaul of the state's academic framework. The 17-member panel will work on developing the new curriculum and syllabus for the Tamil Nadu state board. According to an official release, this work will be carried out in strict alignment with the State Education Policy, which was launched in August 2025.

Annadurai, a highly respected figure in India's space program, brings decades of scientific experience to the committee. During his tenure at ISRO, he served as the project director for the Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission. He was also closely associated with the subsequent Chandrayaan-2 mission as well as the Mars Orbiter Mission, popularly known as Mangalyaan.

Alongside the appointment of the new chairman, the School Education Department has expanded the committee's ranks. Right to Education activist Anantajit Makia has been inducted as a member, bringing the committee's total strength to 17 members.

The committee comprises a wide range of experts from various academic and scientific fields. Among the existing members are Rita John, a physicist who also serves as the registrar of Madras University, and T V Venkateswaran, a scientist with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. Historian K Rajan is also part of the expert panel.

The administrative structure of the committee has also been defined. The director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) will function as the member-secretary. Meanwhile, key administrative officials, including the directors of school education, elementary education, government examinations, and private schools, will serve as ex-officio members.

With these appointments, the committee is fully prepared to begin its work on drafting the updated school syllabus and curriculum in Chennai, ensuring that school education in Tamil Nadu reflects the objectives laid out in the State Education Policy.