Prof. G. Nageswara Rao has been appointed as an Independent Director on the Board of Coal India Limited w.e.f. 1st November, 2021. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University during July 2016 and July 2019, In-charge Vice-chancellor of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Etcherla from July 2017 till December 2017 and Mentor, Central Tribal University of AP from January 2019 to July 2019. He has been conferred with Honorary Colonel rank by the President of India.

He was also conferred with Best Researcher Award in 2000 and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Best Academician Award in 2008 by Andhra University, and Government of Andhra Pradesh conferred. ‘State Best Teacher Award’ on him in 2014. He was the faculty member of Andhra University from 1989 to 2019. He carried out postdoctoral research at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (March 1990 – February 1991) and at University of Durban, South Africa (April 1997 – March 1998).

Prof. Rao has published 376 research papers in national and international journals and participated in 125 conferences. He completed research projects funded by University Grants Commission, Department of Science & Technology, Department of Ocean Development, Ministry of Ocean and Earth Sciences, and DRDO, Govt. of India. He guided 62 Research Scholars for the award of Ph.D. degrees.

He was Expert Committee member for assessment of Major Research Projects, University Grants Commission. He held different positions such as Assistant Principal, College of Science & Technology, Chief Warden, Science Hostels, Head of the Department of Inorganic & Analytical Chemistry, Director, School of Chemistry, Associate Director, Directorate of Admissions, Placement officer, College of Science & Technology, Andhra University. He has functioned as Chairman of several NAAC peer teams and search committees for Vice-chancellor position. Prof. Rao is the Honorary Emeritus Professor of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, and Member of Executive Council of Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh, a central University. He is also President of Vidyabharathi, Andhra Pradesh.