Prof. (Dr.) Pushpendra Singh Chauhan , Head Of Swadeshi Shodh Sansthan, Rajasthan Chapter.
He is the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University (SKNAU), Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan. He is a distinguished agricultural engineer, academician, researcher and institutional leader with over 36 years of experience in agricultural education, research, extension and university administration. Since assuming charge as Vice-Chancellor on 18 October 2025, he has focused on strengthening institutional infrastructure, advancing research and innovation, promoting digital transformation and enhancing farmer-centric agricultural development.
He obtained his Ph.D. in Renewable Energy from IIT Delhi in 1995 with distinction, M.Tech. in Post-Harvest Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1988, and B.E. in Agricultural Engineering from the College of Technology and Agricultural Engineering, Udaipur, in 1986. He also served as a Visiting Scientist at the University of California, Davis, USA, during 2001–02, conducting research on greenhouse energy management and microclimate. During his distinguished career at Junagadh Agricultural University, Gujarat, he served in several key positions, including Professor and Head, Principal and Dean, Registrar, Director of Research and Dean of Postgraduate Studies, contributing significantly to academic governance, research management and institutional development.
His research contributions include leadership of 17 sponsored research projects, including a World Bank-supported ICAR–NAHEP-IDP project that achieved top national rankings. He has authored or co-authored over 75 research papers and five books, holds four patents, and has guided doctoral and postgraduate students. His areas of expertise include renewable energy, agrivoltaics, greenhouse technologies, post-harvest engineering and sustainable agricultural development. He is a Fellow of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers and has received several recognitions, including the NRDC Innovation Award and the Best Teacher Award from Junagadh Agricultural University.
As Vice-Chancellor of SKNAU, Prof. Chauhan has accorded priority to strengthening academic, administrative and residential infrastructure across the university’s constituent colleges. A significant milestone was the inauguration of new administrative and academic buildings, boys’ and girls’ hostels, and a canteen at the College of Agriculture, Bhusawar, on 17 July 2026. He has also emphasised modern teaching facilities, digital governance and improved institutional services to create a conducive environment for quality education and research.
He has encouraged research addressing the agricultural challenges of Rajasthan’s arid and semi-arid regions, with particular emphasis on wheat and barley, seed spices, natural farming, soil and water conservation, renewable energy and climate-resilient agriculture. The launch of SKNAU AI Agents and an agricultural weather portal in September 2026 reflects his emphasis on digital agriculture and technology-enabled decision support. The University’s MoU with Agrinnovate India Limited on 28 September 2026 has further strengthened the institutional framework for technology licensing, intellectual property management and commercialisation of agricultural research outputs. He has also emphasised stronger integration of research, education and extension to ensure that scientific innovations reach farmers and contribute to improved agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Through his academic experience and strategic leadership, Prof. Chauhan is committed to developing SKNAU into a modern, innovation-driven and farmer-centric agricultural university. His vision encompasses advanced laboratories, smart classrooms, AI-enabled agriculture, renewable energy, natural farming, agripreneurship and stronger national research partnerships, in alignment with the goals of Atmanirbhar SKNAU, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Rajasthan 2047.