Photo of Indian scientist Shailesh Nayak.
Shailesh Nayak, an Indian scientist and bureaucrat, is contesting the election for the top post at the Geneva-based World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
"One of the decisions that will be taken on Thursday is the appointment of the next Secretary General," said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for WMO.
"At the moment we know four candidates: Jerry Lengoasa, who is the current WMO Deputy Secretary General from South Africa, Elena Manaenkova, Assistant Secretary General from the Russian Federation, Shailesh Nayak who is the Secretary of Earth Sciences in India and Petri Tallas who is the Director General of the Finnish Meteorological Institute," Clare Nullis said.
The results of the election are due on June 4, said the WMO.
"Dr Shailesh Nayak is #India's candidate for the next SG of World Meteorological Organisation. #meteoworld @WMOnews," the Indian Mission at Geneva tweeted yesterday.
Mr Nayak, a geologist from MS University, Baroda, has had a stint at the Indian Space Research Organisation till 2000. He was earlier the director of Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad.
The WMO is a specialised UN agency dealing with the state and behaviour of the Earth's atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources.
Michel Jarraud, the current Director-General, stands down at the end of this year after three terms in office.
The WMO Congress, which meets every four years, is holding its 17th session and is now in its second week.
It will conclude on June 12. As on January 1, 2013 it had a membership of 191 member states and territories.