Profile - V K Vijay

Prof Virendra Kumar Vijay is most acclaimed and internationally known professor in biogas and rural technologies. His concepts on linking higher educational institutes for village development and biogas purification and bottling technology were well adopted by Government of India and launched as programs by concerned ministry in the Govenment.

Prof. Vijay and his team developed the concept and vision of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan ( Movement for Progressive India), which was adopted by MoE, GOI in 2014. The program aims to create a virtuous cycle between society and an inclusive academic system by providing knowledge of educational institutes, experience of voluntary organizations and resources of government to support holistic rural development. He got patent on biogas small scale biogas upgradation technology which has been licensed to 7 industries and many gaushalas in field areas. He has been operating India’s first biogas car for last 6 years which has crossed more than 50000 km run on biogas. Based on the data by Indian Institute of technology Delhi on performance of engine, emission de-rating and degradation on use of upgraded biogas in the car, Bureau of Indian Standard has formulated biomethane (bio-CNG) standard in India in 2013 (IS:16087).

He has more than 30 years of experience in higher education with multi-disciplinary approach and working with diverse students. Through his approach, students can learn skills, attitude, and values towards sustainable and holistic development. Based on his long experience in higher education and technologies in an agricultural university for 13 years and another 15 years at one of the top known technology institution - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, he observed that the present higher education system in the country is not equipping students in required skills and knowledge to serve industry and society at large. Most of the undergraduate student get their degrees for having only the bookish knowledge without any kind of practical; need based knowledge and real experience gain. He is also founder General Secretary of the technical society – “Biogas Forum -India”.

He is also National Convener for an inter-Ministerial programme “Scientific Utilization Through Research Augmentation- Prime Products/Panchagavya from Indigenous Cows” (SUTRA-PIC up India) led by Ministry of Science and Technology.

National and International Profile Prof. Vijay is actively engaged in research and worked for more than 40 sponsored research and consultancy projects from India and abroad. He has about 150 publications in journals and conferences, 7 books and one lab manual to his credit. Prof. Vijay has successfully developed and patented a technology on Biogas Enrichment and bottling for Vehicular Application and transferred it to the industries and field. He is fellow of Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers and Institution of Engineers (India) and Life Member of National Academy of Science in India, Indian Society of Technical Education, Solar Energy Society of India and other scientific and professional societies/ bodies. He has attended more than 100 National/International Conferences/Seminars/Workshops. He is also member of many national/International level expert committees. He is the Indian coordinator of Sustainable Energy and Environment Forum (SEE Forum) working in Asia with head quarter in Japan, General Secretary of Biogas Forum (India). He has travelled widely in India and abroad. He has visited USA, UK, Japan, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Italy, Vietnam, Belgium and other countries for research and consultancy work.