sentences:  Padmanabhan served as the Chairman (2006-09) of the Time Allocation Committee of the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope of NCRA.He was the Chairman (2008-11) of the Indian National Science Academy's National Committee  which interfaces with the activities of the International Astronomical Union.In addition to advising the Government on policy issues, this also required him to coordinate the International Year of Astronomy 2009 activities in the country.