Dr.K.V.Rao was born on 21st March 1920. He had his earlier education at Rajahmundry and Hyderabad in the State of Andhra Pradesh, India. He did his post graduation in Chemistry and research for his D.Sc. degree at the Banaras Hindu University under Prof. S.S.Joshi on "Active Nitrogen" an intermediary in the synthesis of Ammonia.

Dr.Rao's active Scientific career started in 1947. He worked in the Department of Mines in the erst while Nizam state (1947 - 1952) and in the Geological Survey of India (1952 - 1978). Dr.Rao’s work in the Department of Mines in the Nizam State and later in the GSI related to the chemical analysis of diverse Geological materials and the Geochemistry of rocks, ores, water, etc. After retirement he joined Birla (1978 - 1985) and established the Birla Archeological and Cultural Research Institute, a research institute for study of Archeological Monuments. Later he was interested in the environmental problems in and around Hyderabad.