Vittal Rai (25 October 1935 – 19 December 1995) was an Indian scientist, professor and administrator.
His scientific specialism was bio-fertilisers and he authored a significant number of books based on his research.
Vittal Rai was born into a Tulu-speaking family at Palthad, a small village near Puttur in South Canara (present-day Dakshina Kannada) district.
In India, Rai was offered several jobs in banks and other corporations, but he chose to teach at the University of Agricultural Science in Bangalore as an associate professor.
He was promoted to Professor and Head of the Microbiology Department in 1978 and held the position till he retired in 1995.