Dr Akhilesh Gupta has a doctorate degree from IIT Delhi in Atmospheric Sciences (1999) and post graduate degree from Lucknow University in Physics (1984). He joined the India Meteorological Department in 1985 and later the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in 1994, both are currently under Ministry of Earth Sciences. Dr Gupta has been the Adviser to Union S&T Minister and Secretary to University Grants Commission (UGC). Currently, Dr Gupta is the Senior Adviser in DST heading Policy Coordination and Programme Management Division and overall in-charge of 5 national missions viz., National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical System, National Mission on Quantum Technology and Applications, National Super-computing Mission, National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change and National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem. Dr Gupta has published over 200 research papers in various National and International journals and proceedings of conferences. He is editor of 5 books, author of over 350 articles and nearly 1000 reports . Some of the key research areas of interest to Dr Gupta include, Tropical cyclone prediction, monsoon meteorology, location specific weather prediction, weather and climate modelling, STI policy areas like Open science, equity & inclusion, STI financing, system interconnectedness, etc. Dr Gupta has been one of the authors of India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and head of the Secretariat which drafted India’s new Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, which is under finalization. Dr Gupta is a Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering (FNAE), Fellow of Indian Meteorological Society (FIMS) and a Fellow of Association of Agrometeorologists (FAAM).
