He is a Chief Scientist at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow.

[4] Nayaka revised the genus Lecanora for his doctoral thesis under Upreti's supervision.

Nayaka travelled throughout India and published lichen floristic accounts for several regions.

He surveyed various wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in India, and he has visited Antarctica twice to study its lichens and their ecophysiology.

[citation needed] He authored or edited three books: A field Guide to the common Lichens of Corbett Tiger Reserve,[8] Lichens of Uttar Pradesh,[9] and Plant Diversity of Uttar Pradesh (Including Algae and Fungi).