Mirle Srinivasa Nagaraja Rao (3 June 1932 – 24 December 2011) was an Indian archaeologist who served as the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1984 to 1987.
After obtaining his doctorate, Rao joined the Karnataka State Department of Archaeology as an epigraphist.
[1] During his early days in the ASI, Rao was trained by archaeologist M. N. Deshpande.
Rao served as exploration assistant in the ASI from 1957 to 1964 and curator of the Museum of Art and Archaeology, Karnatak University, Dharwad from 1964 to 1972.
In 1972, he was appointed head of the Karnataka State Archaeology Department and he served till 1983 when he was selected to succeed Debala Mitra as Director General of the ASI.