Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao has an extensive and distinguished career in soil science and agricultural research, marked by significant contributions and leadership roles. With a Ph.D. in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry from IARI, New Delhi, and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from Tel-Aviv University, Israel, Dr. Rao's expertise spans various institutions and international collaborations. His career began with training as a scientist at NAARM, Hyderabad, and included notable positions at IISS Bhopal, IIPR Kanpur, and CRIDA Hyderabad. From 2013 to 2014, he coordinated the AICRP for Dryland Agriculture and was deputed to ICRISAT, Patancheru from 2006 to 2008. Dr. Rao served as the Director of the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture from 2014 to 2017. Dr. Rao's contributions have been recognized through numerous fellowships and awards. He was elected a Fellow of several prestigious societies, including the National Academy of Sciences, India (FNASc) in 2019, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS) in 2008, and the Indian Society of Soil Science (FISSS) in 2011. His accolades include the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award in 2021, the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for Outstanding Research in Agricultural Sciences in 2019, and the Life Time Achievement Award from the Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences in 2019. His leadership extends to international committees and networks. He is a member of the Executive Board of the International Dryland Development Commission (IDDC) and the Asian Long Term Experimental Network for Agriculture (ALTENA). Dr. Rao has also chaired significant committees, such as the one developing a roadmap for Technology Incubator Centres and the Expert Committee on Agro-biodiversity under the National Biodiversity Authority. In addition to his administrative and scientific achievements, Dr. Rao is a prolific author with 345 research papers, 28 authored books, 25 edited books, and 101 book chapters or manuals, underscoring his substantial contribution to agricultural science literature.