Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2024

Former director of Indian Institute of Science G Padmanabhan, the team behind Chandrayaan-3, and Annapurni Subramaniam, director of Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics, along with 30 others, have been selected for the inaugural Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP), the new set of national science awards that were finalised last year.

1. The awards will be presented on August 23, coinciding with the first National Space Day, celebrating the success of Chandrayaan-3’s moon landing.

Key Facts about Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar:

1. About the Award: The RVP is a prestigious award designed to recognize and encourage significant scientific, technological, and innovative achievements. It is open to Indian origin individuals, including Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), whether they work in India or abroad.
2. Purpose: The awards honor individuals for impactful research, innovation, or discoveries that benefit Indian society or communities.
3. Established: Introduced in 2024, the RVP replaces older science awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize. The RVP aims to provide a more inclusive and updated recognition system.
4. Announcement and Ceremony: The awards will be announced annually on May 11 (National Technology Day). The award ceremony for all categories will take place on National Space Day.
5. Categories: The RVP is awarded in several categories:
   1. Physical Sciences
   2. Chemical Sciences
   3. Biological Sciences
   4. Mathematical Sciences
   5. Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
   6. Engineering Sciences

Categories of the Awards:

1. Vigyan Ratna (VR):
   1. Purpose: Honors lifetime achievements and substantial contributions in any field of science and technology.
   2. Number of Awards: Up to 3 each year.
   3. Eligibility: Distinguished scientists and technologists with significant career achievements.
2. Vigyan Shri (VS):
   1. Purpose: Recognizes distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology.
   2. Number of Awards: Up to 25 each year.
   3. Eligibility: Individuals with notable achievements in their respective scientific or technological domains.
3. Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB):
   1. Purpose: Encourages young scientists under 45 years who have made exceptional contributions.
   2. Number of Awards: Up to 25 each year.
   3. Eligibility: Young scientists with outstanding research or innovation.
4. Vigyan Team (VT):
   1. Purpose: Awards teams of three or more for exceptional collaborative contributions.
   2. Number of Awards: Up to 3 each year.
   3. Eligibility: Teams with outstanding achievements in any field of science and technology.

Benefits of the Award:

1. Each awardee receives a certificate (Sanad) signed by the President of India.
2. A brochure featuring the awardees’ citations and photographs is released on the ceremony day.
3. Posthumous awards are presented to the next of kin.

Key Awardees of the 2024 Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar:

1. Vigyan Ratna:
   1. G. Padmanabhan: Recognized for his lifetime achievements in biological sciences, particularly his work on malaria parasites. He is a former director of the Indian Institute of Science and has received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
2. Vigyan Team:
   1. Chandrayaan-3 Team: Awarded for their successful mission that landed India’s first spacecraft on the Moon in 2023, marking a major milestone in India's space exploration.
3. Vigyan Shri:
   1. Annapurni Subramaniam: For work on the formation and evolution of star clusters and galaxies.
   2. Jayant Bhalchandra Udgaonkar: For contributions in the field of biology.
   3. Naba Kumar Mondal: Recognized for achievements in particle physics.
4. Vigyan Yuva:
   1. Vivek Polshettiwar: For innovations in carbon capture technologies.
   2. Urbasi Sinha: For contributions to quantum research.
   3. Roxy Mathew Koll: Recognized for work in climate science.

Conclusion

The introduction of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) in 2024 represents a major advancement in how India acknowledges and rewards scientific excellence. By replacing older science awards and introducing a more comprehensive recognition system, the RVP aims to better celebrate and encourage significant contributions across various scientific and technological fields.

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