India Unveils Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025: Celebrating Scientific Excellence
The Government of India has officially announced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025, a premier national honor celebrating exceptional and inspiring achievements in science, technology, and innovation. These awards were established to spotlight groundbreaking research, foster excellence, and bolster India’s position in the global scientific and technological arena.
Understanding the Four Prestigious Categories of India’s Top Science Awards
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is structured into four distinct categories: the Vigyan Ratna (VR), Vigyan Shri (VS), Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB), and Vigyan Team (VT). These awards collectively span 13 critical scientific domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, and Space Science.
The Vigyan Ratna is a lifetime achievement award for significant contributions to science and technology. The Vigyan Shri recognizes outstanding work in particular scientific fields. The Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award honors young scientists under 45 for their remarkable accomplishments, and the Vigyan Team Award acknowledges impactful collaborative research.
Posthumous Honor: Professor Jayant Vishnu Narlikar Awarded Vigyan Ratna
In a poignant recognition, the nation’s highest scientific distinction, the Vigyan Ratna, has been posthumously bestowed upon Professor Jayant Vishnu Narlikar. This award celebrates his extraordinary lifelong commitment to physics and cosmology. Renowned for his pioneering work on conformal gravity and his dedicated efforts to popularize science across India, Professor Narlikar’s honor further solidifies his lasting legacy as one of the most revered astrophysicists of our era.
Vigyan Shri: Honoring Scientific Brilliance Across Diverse Fields
Nine eminent scientists have been recognized with the Vigyan Shri Award for their significant contributions spanning various disciplines:
- Dr. Gyanendra Pratap Singh (Agricultural Science)
- Dr. Yusuf Mohammad Seikh (Atomic Energy)
- Dr. K. Thangaraj (Biological Sciences)
- Prof. Pradeep Thalappil (Chemistry)
- Prof. Aniruddha Bhalchandra Pandit (Engineering Sciences)
- Dr. S. Venkata Mohan (Environmental Science)
- Prof. Mahan MJ (Mathematics and Computer Science)
- Shri Jayan N (Space Science and Technology)
Vigyan Yuva Awards: Recognizing Emerging Scientific Talent
The coveted Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards have been presented to thirteen brilliant young researchers, honoring their extraordinary achievements in diverse fields including chemistry, biology, physics, medicine, and technology. Notable recipients include Dr. Dibyendu Das (Chemistry), Dr. Deepa Agashe and Shri Debarka Sengupta (Biological Sciences), Dr. Waliur Rahaman (Earth Science), Prof. Suresh Kumar (Medicine), Prof. Amit Kumar Agarwal and Prof. Surhud Shrikant More (Physics), and Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam (Technology and Innovation).
CSIR’s Aroma Mission Team Clinches Vigyan Team Award
The prestigious Vigyan Team Award has been bestowed upon the innovative Aroma Mission team from CSIR. Their pioneering work in agricultural advancement, particularly in developing aromatic crops and essential oil technologies, has significantly uplifted farmers nationwide and strengthened rural economies.
IIT Madras Celebrates Success with Three Award-Winning Professors
IIT Madras proudly announces that three of its distinguished professors—Prof. Pradeep Thalappil, Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, and Prof. Shweta Prem Agrawal—are among this year’s esteemed award recipients. Their recognition underscores the institute’s increasing prominence and leadership in cutting-edge research and technology-driven innovation across various academic disciplines.
Rigorous Selection and Nomination Process
The nomination period for the 2025 awards ran from October 4 to November 17, 2024, facilitated through the National Awards Portal. The rigorous selection process involved a comprehensive evaluation by a high-level committee. This committee was led by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and included secretaries from various science departments, heads of scientific academies, and numerous experts.
Fostering a Culture of Innovation for India’s Scientific Future
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar stands as a testament to India’s unwavering dedication to honoring scientists who consistently push the boundaries of discovery and innovation. By celebrating exceptional contributions across 13 diverse disciplines, these awards aim to ignite inspiration in the next generation of researchers and significantly fortify the nation’s scientific foundation.