Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao,, is an Indian chemist who has worked mainly in solid-state and structural chemistry. He has honorary doctorates from 86 universities from around the world and has authored around 1,800 research publications and 56 books. He is described as a scientist who had won all possible awards in his field except the Nobel Prize.

The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) is a national academy in New Delhi for Indian scientists in all branches of science and technology.