Girish Sahni on 26 August 2015 assumed charge as the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with effect from the 24 August 2015. Additionally, Sahni will also serve as Secretary, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Union Ministry of Science & Technology.

Previously, Sahni had been the Director of CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH), Chandigarh.

Born on 2 March 1956, Sahni specializes in Protein Engineering, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology. He is internationally recognized for his research contributions. He is Fellow of Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi; Indian Academy of Science, Bangalore, and NASI, Allahabad.