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{{Short description|Indian aquaculture scientist (1955–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_suffix = [[Padma Shri]]
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Subbanna Ayyappan
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1955|12|10}}
| birth_place = [[Mysore]], [[Karnataka]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2025|05|10|1955|12|10}}
| death_place =
| children = 2
| alma_mater = {{Unbulleted_list| (M. F. Sc.) [[College of Fisheries]], [[Mangalore]]|(PhD) [[University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore]]}}
| doctoral_advisor =
| known_for = [[Blue Revolution]] in India
| footnotes =
| field = [[Aquaculture]]
| work_institution = {{Unbulleted_list|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 <br>Chief Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board, DAHD&I, Hyderabad|Chairman of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)}}
| awards = {{Unbulleted_list
|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}}
}}

'''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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ubkv.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/1st-to-6th-Convocation.pdf |title=Details of first six Convocations| publisher=Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya |access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dealing with crop stresses and scandals |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/interviews/dealing-with-crop-stresses-and-scandals--42504 |website=Down to Earth |date=17 October 2013 |publisher=Centre for Science & Environment |access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref>

Ayyappan held a Ph.D. degree and a master's degree in Fish Production and Management from the [[College of Fisheries]] in [[Mangalore]] which was then a part of the [[University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru|University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore]]. He published several research papers in areas of fisheries, limnology, and aquatic microbiology.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ajith Athrady |title=Five from Karnataka honoured with Padma Shri awards |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/five-from-karnataka-honoured-with-padma-shri-awards-1074599.html |access-date=12 February 2022 |agency=DHNS |publisher=Deccan Herald |date=25 January 2022}}</ref>

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).<ref name="R1">{{cite journal |title=Dr. S. Ayyappan takes over as Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR |journal=Sarson News |volume=14 |issue=1 |url=https://dokumen.tips/documents/dr-mangala-rai-dr-s-ayyappan-takes-over-as-secretary-as-convener-and-dr.html?page=1 |access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> 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 in Hinduism|dhyana]]. He was 69.<ref>[https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/padma-shri-awardee-subbanna-ayyappan-dies-under-mysterious-circumstances-3534955 Padma Shri awardee Subbanna Ayyappan dies under mysterious circumstances]</ref> Investigations indicated that he died by suicide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Shri awardee, noted agriculture scientist Subbanna Ayyappan found dead in Cauvery river |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/india/padma-shri-awardee-noted-agriculture-scientist-subbanna-ayyappan-found-dead-in-cauvery-river/ar-AA1ExS25?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=932cb68e49cb49bfb7a63331358823a8&ei=22 |website=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=16 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251016082700/https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/india/padma-shri-awardee-noted-agriculture-scientist-subbanna-ayyappan-found-dead-in-cauvery-river/ar-AA1ExS25?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=932cb68e49cb49bfb7a63331358823a8&ei=22 |archive-date=16 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rodrigues |first1=Savio |title=Death in the Cauvery: Dr Ayyappan and the chilling pattern of India’s vanishing scientists |url=https://latest.sundayguardianlive.com/top-five/death-in-the-cauvery-dr-ayyappan-and-the-chilling-pattern-of-indias-vanishing-scientists |website=[[The Sunday Guardian]] |access-date=16 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250717102621/https://latest.sundayguardianlive.com/top-five/death-in-the-cauvery-dr-ayyappan-and-the-chilling-pattern-of-indias-vanishing-scientists |archive-date=17 July 2025 |date=18 May 2025}}</ref>

==Recognition==
{{Prose|section|date=May 2025}}
===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.<ref name="PadmaShri2022">{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2022 |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/padmaawardees2022.pdf |website=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> The award is in recognition of his service as a "Respected Aquaculture Scientist, playing a key role in powering India's Blue Revolution".<ref name="PadmaShri2022Images">{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2022 |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/AwardeeTickets2022.aspx |website=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>

===Other recognitions and awards===
Subbanna Ayyappan received several recognitions and awards for his work related to aquaculture and related areas. These include:<ref name="R1"/>

*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)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asianscientist.com/as100/ |title=The Asian Scientist 100 |author=  |date= |website= |publisher= [[Asian Scientist]] |access-date= 13 March 2025 |quote= |language= }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayyappan, Subbanna}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:2025 suicides]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian scientists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian scientists]]
[[Category:Aquaculturists]]
[[Category:Bangalore University alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Suicides by drowning]]
[[Category:Suicides in India]]
[[Category:Om Prakash Bhasin Award recipients]]
[[Category:Male suicides]]

Subbanna Ayyappan - Revision history

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