Rukmini Kishore Dutta Roy earned the degree of DrIng (1933) from the Technishe Hoch-Schule, Hanover, Germany. He became the Deputy Director-General, Geological Survey of India.

Academic and Research Achievements: Roy carried out research on low- and high-temperature distillation of Indian coals and on the stocked and fresh coal for the utilization in the coke ovens. His thesis on solvent action on Indian coals clarified the fundamental differences between coking and non- coking coals. He carried out a detailed study of the characteristics of Indian coking coal, their carbon and ash content as well as different physio-chemical properties of some Indian metallurgical cokes in relation to their use in the blast furnace. The relationship between the coking index and the ultimate analysis and high temperature distillation products were studied by him. He elucidated swelling properties of coal which has direct bearing on coke formation and on the life of coke plant. He also undertook a few significant experiments on the feasibility of preparing synthetic petrol from coal. His work on the sulphur content in coal as well as possibility of their recovery in the manufacture of synthetic gas from coal points to his enviable standard of research ability. He was considered an authority in rock and mineral analysis.

Other Contributions: Rukmini Kishore was a Member of the Fuel Research Committee, Heavy Chemicals Committee, and Solid Minerals and Fuel Committee (Government of India). He was also an esteemed Member of the Asiatic Society.

Awards and Honours: Dutta Roy was elected the General Secretary of the Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India for a long tenure of ten years from 1951 to 1960. Besides, he was also a Fellow at the Indian Chemical Society and Institution of Chemists.