Subbanna Ayyappan

Subbanna Ayyappan (10 December 1955 – 10 May 2025) was an Indian aquaculture scientist hailing from the Karnataka State who held several key positions in various government organisations related to agricultural science. He was the Director-General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary to Government, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) from January 2010 to February 2016.^[1] He was also the Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Manipur. He was instrumental in bringing about the Blue Revolution in India. He was the first non-crop scientist to head the ICAR.^[2]

Subbanna Ayyappan Padma Shri
Born	Subbanna Ayyappan (1955-12-10)10 December 1955 Mysore, Karnataka, India
Died	10 May 2025(2025-05-10) (aged 69)
Alma mater	(M. F. Sc.) College of Fisheries, Mangalore (PhD) Bangalore University
Known for	Blue Revolution in India
Children	2
Awards	1996 Padma Shri 1997-Zahoor Qasim Gold Medal Special ICAR Award-1997 Dr. V.G. Jhingran Gold medal-2002 Prof. H.P.C. Shetty Award for Excellence in Fisheries Research and Development-2002
Scientific career
Fields	Aquaculture
Institutions	Director-General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Secretary to Government, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) Director, CIFA, Bhubaneswar Director, CIFA, Bhubaneswar Director, CIFE, Mumbai Chief Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board, DAHD&I, Hyderabad Chairman of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)

Ayyappan held a Ph.D., degree from Bangalore University and a master's degree in Fish Production and Management from the College of Fisheries in Mangalore. He published several research papers in areas of fisheries, limnology, and aquatic microbiology.^[3]

Ayyappan began his career in ICAR as a scientist at Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore in 1978. In 1996 he was appointed the Director, CIFA, Bhubaneswar, where he served for almost five years prior to holding the office of the Director, CIFE, Mumbai (Deemed University). He came to the ICAR headquarters in 2002 as the Deputy Director General (Fisheries) and served for almost eight years in that capacity before taking up the important post of the Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR on 1 January 2010. He was the founder Chief Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board, DAHD&I, Hyderabad (2006–2008).^[4] Ayyappan was also Chairman of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

Death

Ayyappan was reported missing on 7 May 2025. On 10 May, his body was found in the River Cauvery near Sai Ashram at Srirangapatna, Karnataka, a favourite place of his for dhyana. He was 69.^[5] Investigations indicated that he might have died by suicide.^[6]

Recognition

Padma Shri

In 2022, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shri award, the third highest award in the Padma series of awards, on Subbanna Ayyappan for his distinguished service in the field of science and engineering.^[7] The award is in recognition of his service as a "Respected Aquaculture Scientist, playing a key role in powering India's Blue Revolution".^[8]

Other recognitions and awards

Subbanna Ayyappan received several recognitions and awards for his work related to aquaculture and related areas. These include:^[4]

• Zahoor Qasim Gold Medal awarded by the Society of Biosciences in India (1996–1997)
• Special ICAR Award (1997)
• ICAR Award for Team Research as the Team leader for significant contributions in fisheries (1997–1998)
• Dr. V.G. Jhingran Gold medal (2002)
• Prof. H.P.C. Shetty Award for Excellence in Fisheries Research and Development, Asian Fisheries Society, Indian Branch (2002)
• Asian Scientist 100, Asian Scientist (2023)^[9]