From Scholar to Sky-Saver: Celebrating Dr. Shubha V. Iyengar’s Padma Shri

From Scholar to Sky-Saver: Celebrating Dr. Shubha V. Iyengar’s Padma Shri

Innovation is about seeing what others cannot sometimes quite literally. 

We incredibly inspired by the story of Dr. Shubha V. Iyengar, who was recently conferred the Padma Shri 2026 for her pioneering work in Science and Engineering. As the veteran scientist behind Drishti, India’s first indigenous runway visibility-measuring system, she solved a critical safety challenge that previously relied on expensive foreign imports.

Today, her technology is the "eyes" of over 100 Indian airports, allowing pilots to land safely in dense fog and storms. At 71, as the only woman recognized in her category this year, Dr. Iyengar proves that brilliance and persistence have no retirement age. She didn't just build a sensor; she built a safer future for Indian aviation.

Source: The Economics Times