Yash Pal is an Indian scientist and educator. He was raised in Pai, Kaithal, Haryana (India), graduated with a degree in physics from Panjab University, Chandigarh

Panjab University, Chandigarh

Panjab University is one of the oldest universities in India. The university campus is residential, spread over an area of in sectors 14 and 25 of the city of Chandigarh...

 in 1949 and gained a PhD degree in Physics

Physics

Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...

 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...

 in 1958.

Yash Pal has held many positions within the educational establishment of the Indian government, is known for regular appearances on the science programme Turning Point telecast on Doordarshan

DoorDarshan

Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...

and for explaining scientific concepts in layman's language along with participation on advisory boards for televised science programmes such as Bharat ki chaap.

In 1976 the Indian government

Government of India

The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...

 awarded Pal the Padma Bhushan

Padma Bhushan

The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...

 for his contribution to science and space technology. Pal was made a Marconi Fellow

Marconi Prize

The Marconi Prize is an annual award by The Marconi Society, which recognizes advancements in information technology and communications. The Prize includes a $100,000 honorarium and a work of sculpture, and honorees are called Marconi Fellows...

 in 1980 for his work at the Space Applications Centre

Space Applications Centre

The Space Applications Centre is an institution of research in Ahmedabad, India under the aegis of the Indian Space Research Organization...

 in Ahmedabad  . In October 2010 he was also awarded the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for excellence in public administration, academics and management.

He is a Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi till present.