Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar

The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar was recently presented for the first time in 2024 by the President of India, highlighting distinguished contributions in the field of science and technology. This new set of awards was introduced by the government after the scrapping of previous science awards, aiming to recognize and encourage excellence across various domains of scientific research.

Categories and Recipients:

• Vigyan Ratna:
• Awarded for lifetime achievements and notable contributions to science and technology.
• This year, it was awarded to Prof. Govindarajan Padmanabhan, a pioneer in molecular biology and biotechnology research in India.
• Vigyan Shri:
• Recognizes distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology.
• It was awarded to 13 scientists for path-breaking research in their respective domains.
• Vigyan Yuva - Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB):
• Recognizes young scientists for exceptional contributions to science and technology.
• 18 scientists were honored this year for contributions in areas such as warming of the Indian Ocean, the development of indigenous 5G base stations, and precision tests of quantum mechanics.
• Vigyan Team:
• Awarded to a team of three or more scientists who have made exceptional contributions while working together in any scientific field.
• This year, the award was presented to the Chandrayaan-3 team for the successful landing of the lander near the moon's south pole.

These awards are part of the government's initiative to further promote scientific research and recognize those who have made significant contributions to India’s scientific advancements.