The Modi government has heeded the criticism on adhoc appointments in the top position of the premier scientific body of the country. It has now appointed Dr MO Garg as director of CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun as the new director general of the CSIR.  

Dr Garg has 37 years of experience in the refining and petrochemical industry. The post was technically lying vaccant since more than a month. Dr Garg's predcessor, Dr PS Ahuja retired on December, 31, 2014. The previous regime had tried to appoint a full time new director general after Dr Samir Brahmachari but the issue got entangled in various controversies. Following that Dr T Ramasami, then secretary of DST held the post for a brief period and post his retirement, Dr PS Ahuja was given an extension to hold the post.

Dr Garg started his career in the Research and Development Division of Engineers India Ltd in 1976. He did his PhD at University of Melbourne in the area of Solvent Extraction. In 1994, he joined Process System Services Division of KTI-Technip India Ltd. and joined Indian Institute of Petroleum in 1998.

Dr Garg has developed and commercialized several technologies and has received two CSIR Technology Awards as well as a CSIR Shield for his commercialization efforts. He has contributed immensely to the growth of Indian refining industry in various ways. He has published over 213 papers and has 26 patents to his credit. He has been elected Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering. Dr Garg has been invited both in India and abroad to give lectures in prestigious conferences.