Soumya Swaminathan

Chairperson; Principal Advisor, National TB Elimination Programme — M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation; Government of India

About Soumya Swaminathan

Key facts Role: Chairperson, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation; principal adviser, National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme Organisation: M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation; Government of India Country: India Sector: Science & health Headline figures: India carries nearly a quarter of the world's TB cases; TB mortality around 21–22 per 100,000 against a goal of about three In May the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of sciences, elected Dr Soumya Swaminathan to its fellowship, one of 90 researchers from around the world chosen this year. The former chief scientist of the World Health Organization said she was only the second woman from India to be elected, after Gagandeep Kang. She and her late father, the agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, who was elected in 1973, are the first father-daughter pair from India in the fellowship, the Indian Express and BusinessLine reported. The honour comes as she holds two roles that together link India's public health and food systems. The roles Swaminathan chairs the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), the Chennai-based institute that works on agriculture and climate change. She is also principal adviser to the Union health ministry for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), a pro bono post she took in July 2024, The Hindu reported. In the advisory role she gives technical advice on strategy, proposes policy direction and course corrections, and advises on research, according to the ministry's statement at the time. She is still described as principal adviser in 2026 coverage. The scale is large. India carries nearly a quarter of the world's TB cases and 27–28% of TB deaths, she said at a webinar in March. The TB message Her message this year has been that India's 2030 elimination target will not be met through medicine alone. Speaking before World TB Day in March, she said TB mortality had fallen from about 35 per 100,000 in 2015 to around 21–22, against a goal of about three, First Check reported. "TB deaths, the majority occur in the first two months, and in fact, the vast majority occur in the first month," she said. She called for rapid clinical screening of high-risk patients, of the kind Tamil Nadu uses in its TN-KET programme, and for immediate hospitalisation of the sickest. She also called for mobile X-ray units with AI tools in tribal areas and stronger work with private providers in cities. "We need to talk more openly about TB," she said. Background Her career has spanned national and global health institutions. Before WHO she was director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, and she served as WHO chief scientist, The Hindu reported. At MSSRF she has taken on science communication. After her election to the Royal Society she said a vocal and growing minority was "anti-science, spreading misinformation, especially through social media". She announced an MSSRF podcast explaining topics such as extreme heat, the Indian Express reported. She also said she planned to nominate more women scientists from India and other developing countries to the society. On 2 September she accepted the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Award 2026, worth Rs2.5m, on the foundation's behalf for its work on agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods, the New Indian Express reported. “We need to talk more openly about TB,” — Swaminathan, speaking before World TB Day in March (First Check) Advisory influence Her influence is advisory rather than executive. She controls no ministry budget, and her TB role carries no line authority. Her standing comes from technical credibility, international networks built at WHO, and a platform that connects health, nutrition and climate research. BusinessLine quoted her hoping her election would encourage young people towards careers "where you can combine your scientific curiosity with also the benefit of having an impact on people's lives". What to watch: India's next TB report and whether mortality falls fast enough to keep the 2030 goal credible. Also watch how widely early-mortality screening is adopted across states, and whether MSSRF's policy work on nutrition and climate gains traction with governments. She ranks 45th because she has great scientific authority and advises on one of the world's largest disease-elimination programmes, but formal decision-making power lies elsewhere. Sources The Indian Express, Dr Swaminathan, elected fellow of Royal Society, says 'need to address growing anti-science voices' , 21 May 2026 BusinessLine, Soumya Swaminathan, Agrawal elected as Royal Society fellows , 27 May 2026 The Hindu, Soumya Swaminathan appointed Principal Advisor for National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme , 9 Jul 2024 First Check, We need to talk more openly about TB: Dr Soumya Swaminathan on India's TB fight , 23 Mar 2026 The New Indian Express, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation to receive YSR-KVP Foundation award , 26 Aug 2026

Why this entry is on the list

She ranks 45th because she has great scientific authority and advises on one of the world's largest disease-elimination programmes, but formal decision-making power lies elsewhere. A former WHO chief scientist, she chairs the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and is principal adviser to the Union health ministry for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.