When Anand Mahindra highlighted Dr Shubha V Iyengar as his Monday Motivation, it drew attention to a scientist whose work rarely makes headlines but saves lives every day. A former CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) scientist, Dr Iyengar led the development ofDrishti, India’s first indigenously built runway visibility measurement system.
At a time when aviation safety is under scrutiny following fatal crashes linked to poor visibility, Drishti’s role has become increasingly critical. Installed at major airports including Delhi, Kolkata, and Lucknow, the system provides real-time runway visual range (RVR) data, helping pilots, air traffic controllers, and meteorological teams make informed landing and take-off decisions during fog, rain, and dust storms.
Awarded thePadma Shri in 2026, Dr Iyengar’s recognition comes more than a decade after Drishti’s nationwide rollout — underscoring how long-term, indigenous innovations often shape safety standards quietly before earning national honours. Beyond Drishti, her contributions span aviation weather monitoring systems, sensor technologies, and mentoring future scientists, strengthening India’s push for technological self-reliance in aerospace safety.
