Rao is 102 years old and works as a Professor Emeritus at Pennsylvania State University and a Research Professor at the University of Buffalo, New York. He has been conferred with numerous honors and awards during his long career, including the most prestigious India Science Award in 2010, the Padma Bhushan in 1968, the Padma Vibhushan in 2001, and 38 honorary doctoral degrees from universities in 19 countries.
Further, in 2013, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to the International Encyclopedia of Statistical Science. He has also served as the President of the International Statistical Institute and the International Biometric Society, and is a member of National Academies in India, the UK, the US, and Italy. At present, he is a Senior Policy and Statistics Advisor for the Indian Heart Association (IHA), which is a charity organization that creates awareness about cardiovascular health among the South Asian population.
