Government of India Announces Prestigious “Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar” to Honor Excellence in Science, Technology, and Innovation

Delhi: The Government of India has introduced the prestigious “Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar” (National Science Awards) to acknowledge exceptional contributions in the fields of Science, Technology, and Innovation. This national award aims to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of researchers, technologists, and innovators who have made outstanding contributions to the scientific community.

Nominations and applications are now open for the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) in various categories, inviting individuals or teams engaged in diverse fields of science, technology, and technology-led innovation. The awards will be presented in four categories:

1. Vigyan Ratna (VR): Recognizing lifetime achievements and significant contributions in the field of Science and Technology, with a maximum of three awards.
2. Vigyan Shri (VS): Acknowledging distinguished contributions in specific fields of Science and Technology, with a maximum of 25 awards.
3. Vigyan Yuva Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) Award: Honoring young scientists who have made exceptional contributions in the realm of Science and Technology, with a maximum of 25 awards.
4. Vigyan Team (VT) Award: Awarding teams of three or more scientists, researchers, or innovators who have collectively made an outstanding contribution in a given field of Science and Technology, with a maximum of three awards.

The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar will be conferred across 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics & Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Technology & Innovation, Atomic Energy, Space Science and Technology, and Others.

Nominations are invited through the Award Portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (https://awards.gov.in/) from January 14, 2024, to February 28, 2024. General guidelines and details about RVP are available on the awards portal. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the Ministry of Science and Technology will coordinate the awards this year.

The announcement of the awards is scheduled for May 11, 2024, on National Technology Day, and the award ceremony for all categories will take place on August 23, 2024, on National Space Day. This initiative aims to inspire and honor the scientific community’s relentless pursuit of excellence in advancing knowledge and innovation.