About Mohammd's Work
Dr. Mohammad Rafiq is an accomplished environmental scientist and geoinformatics expert with
extensive experience in research, policy, and national programme implementation. He holds a
Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of
Space, and a Ph.D. in Geoinformatics from the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics,
Sathyabama University, Chennai. He also holds M.Sc. and M.Phil. degrees in Geoinformatics
from the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir. In addition, he has earned several
professional certifications from the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology
under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, as well as the
Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, among others.
Presently, Dr. Rafiq serves as Director of the Green Transition, Climate and Environment
Division at NITI Aayog, Government of India. In this capacity, he leads initiatives advancing
climate resilience, sustainable development, and natural resource management. His previous
roles include Scientist at the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM),
Natural Resource Management Specialist at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MoEFCC), and State GIS Officer under the Ministry of Rural Development.
Dr. Rafiq has played a key role in numerous national and international projects such as
Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities, National Climate Adaptation
Plan, Climate Adaptation Modelling for India, Vulnerability Assessment of Small Islands,
Environmental Impact Assessment Studies, GLOF and Glacier Studies, Integrated Flood
Vulnerability Assessment for Risk Management, and Air Quality and Black Carbon Monitoring
Networks. His interdisciplinary work reflects his commitment to integrating science, policy, and
technology for sustainable development.
A recipient of seven Best Researcher Awards, Dr. Rafiq has authored more than 65 peer-
reviewed publications, along with several books and book chapters. He is an active reviewer for
reputed international publishing houses including Springer, Elsevier, and Taylor & Francis. He
has presented his research at numerous national and international conferences and regularly
convenes scientific workshops, conferences, and webinars. His scientific expeditions have taken
him from the glaciers of the Himalayas to the islands of Lakshadweep, underscoring his
dedication to advancing environmental understanding across diverse ecosystems.