Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is a National Award instituted by the Government of India to recognize the contributions of outstanding researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation. The award has been the subject of controversy because the final selection of awardees is conducted by a political official, the Minister of Science and Technology, rather than a scientific committee.
Sep 30 2024
Sep 16 2024
science.orgBackground
The institution of this award was announced in January 2024 and the names of the first set of awardees were announced on 7 August 2024.14 The awards were distributed on 22 August 2024,15 a day ahead of the National Space Day.16 The award consists of a certificate signed by the President of India and a medallion.
Eligibility
Scientists, technologists and innovators working in Govt. or private organizations in India who have done highly impactful research, discovery or innovation are eligible for the award. Moreover, such persons of Indian origin and working abroad are also eligible for the award.17
The selection process
The nominations for the award are initially scrutinized by a 17-member panel headed by the Principal Scientific Advisor to Govt of India from a list of nominated persons. Other members of the panel are Secretaries of the six Science Ministries/Departments (DST, DBT, CSIR, MoES, DoS and DAE), four select Presidents of the Science and Engineering Academies and six distinguished scientists and technologists from different fields of Science and Technology. Nominations can be made by any individual, institution, State Govts, Depts/Ministries of Govt of India, heads of national science bodies, etc.18
The panel recommends names to the Minister of Science and Technology who performs the final selection of awardees. In 2024 the inaugural year of the award, the Minister is believed to have overruled the scientific committee to exclude scientists seen as critical of the government192021 leading several scientists to write to the government objecting to this method of selection.2223242526
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar awardees of the year 2024
The following are the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar awardees of the year 2024.2728
| Sl. No. | Award | Name | Field/Domain | Institute/Organisation/University |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vigyan Ratna Award | Prof. Govindarajan Padmanabhan | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru |
| 2 | Vigyan Shri | Dr. Anandharamakrishnan C | Agricultural Science | CSIR - National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram |
| 3 | Vigyan Shri | Dr. Avesh Kumar Tyagi | Atomic Energy | Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai |
| 4 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Umesh Varshney | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore |
| 5 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Jayant Bhalchandra Udgaonkar | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (IISER), Pune |
| 6 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Syed Wajih Ahmad Naqvi | Earth Science | CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow |
| 7 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Bhim Singh | Engineering Sciences | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-D), Delhi |
| 8 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Adimurthi Adi | Mathematics and Computer Science | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K), Kanpur |
| 9 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Rahul Mukherjee | Mathematics and Computer Science | Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC) |
| 10 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Dr Sanjay Behari | Medicine | Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 11 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Lakshmanan Muthusamy | Physics | Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli |
| 12 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Naba Kumar Mondal | Physics | Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata |
| 13 | Vigyan Shri | Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam | Space Science and Technology | Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru |
| 14 | Vigyan Shri | Prof Rohit Srivastava | Technology and Innovation | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-B), Mumbai |
| 15 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Krishna Murthy S L | Agricultural Science | Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad |
| 16 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Swarup Kumar Parida | Agricultural Science | National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi |
| 17 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Radhakrishnan Mahalakshmi | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal |
| 18 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Aravind Penmatsa | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru |
| 19 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Vivek Polshettiwar | Chemistry | Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai |
| 20 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Vishal Rai | Chemistry | Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal |
| 21 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Roxy Mathew Koll | Earth Science | Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune |
| 22 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Abhilash | Engineering Sciences | CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur |
| 23 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Radha Krishna Ganti | Engineering Sciences | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-M), Chennai |
| 24 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Purabi Saikia | Environmental Science | Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi |
| 25 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Bappi Paul | Environmental Science | National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar |
| 26 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Mahesh Ramesh Kakde | Mathematics and Computer Science | Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru |
| 27 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Jitendra Kumar Sahu | Medicine | Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh |
| 28 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Pragya Dhruv Yadav | Medicine | ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune |
| 29 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Urbasi Sinha | Physics | Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru |
| 30 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Digendranath Swain | Space Science and Technology | ISRO-Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 31 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Prashant Kumar | Space Science and Technology | ISRO-Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad |
| 32 | Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal | Technology and Innovation | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-M), Chennai |
| 33 | Vigyan Team | ISRO - Team Chandrayaan 3 | Space Science and Technology | Indian Space Research Organisation, Bengaluru |
Controversy
The awards have attracted controversy due to the role played by political officials in the selection of awardees. Soon after the announcement of the inaugural awards, it was reported that the some of those selected by the scientific committee had been dropped in the final list announced by the Indian government.29 Initial media reports revealed that one of the individuals dropped was Suvrat Raju a physicist who had been critical of the government.30 Subsequently, 26 former winners of the Bhatnagar Prize wrote to the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India31323334 expressing their concern that "unfair non-scientific considerations" may have influenced this year's awardees. Additional news reports revealed that at least two more scientists had been excluded: Prateek Sharma, a physicist who had signed open letters critical of the government, and Suman Chakraborty.3536 After the appearance of these reports, the official rules governing the award were modified by the insertion of a new line stating that the scientific selection committee could only "recommend" names to the Minister for Science and Technology.3738 In response to this change, 176 prominent Indian scientists wrote to the government stating that it was "shocking" for the Minister to have the "right to veto experts".3940 However, the Indian government stated that its decisions were final and would not be altered.41
External links
- Video President Droupadi Murmu Presents Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2024 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on YouTube.
References
"Call for Nominations announced under Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2024". pib.gov.in. Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India. Retrieved 15 August 2024. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1995945 ↩
"Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2024". awards.gov.in. CASU, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 15 August 2024. https://awards.gov.in/Home/AwardLibrary ↩
Ananya (9 Oct 2024). "Indian government accused of political meddling in science prizes". Science. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.science.org/content/article/indian-government-accused-political-meddling-science-prizes ↩
Dutt, Anonna (2024-09-28). "'Shocking, Ministers can't veto experts' picks,' Scientists write second letter to Govt on National Science Awards". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/national-science-award-row-scientists-letter-selection-criteria-9591029/ ↩
Deb, Abhik (2024-09-17). "'Unfair considerations?': 26 scientists express concern about new process for prestigious award". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://scroll.in/article/1073359/unfair-considerations-26-scientists-express-concern-about-new-process-for-prestigious-award ↩
Ray, Kalyan. "Scientists voice concerns about Centre's decision to overrule expert panel picks for Bhatnagar award". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/scientists-voice-concerns-about-centres-decision-to-overrule-expert-panel-picks-for-bhatnagar-award-3210386 ↩
Mukunth, Vasudevan (2024-09-30). "New science awards, old political project". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/new-science-awards-old-political-project/article68702079.ece ↩
Sharma, Dinesh. "Keep science awards above politics". The Tribune. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/keep-science-awards-above-politics/ ↩
Parimal, Peeyush. "Why Centre's inaugural Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar has run into controversy". Moneycontrol. Archived from the original on 2025-01-18. Retrieved 2025-02-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20250118054549/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/why-centres-inaugural-rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-has-run-into-controversy-12824338.html ↩
"Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Exclusion of scientist critical of BJP raises questions". EdexLive. 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.edexlive.com/news/2024/Aug/23/rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-exclusion-of-scientist-critical-of-bjp-raises-questions ↩
Harigovind, Abhinaya (2024-09-18). "Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar row: Govt responds to scientists, indicates Minister's say on awardees is final". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-row-awards-panel-sent-names-to-minister-scientists-told-9573260/ ↩
Mudur, G.S. "Scientists raise concern over ministerial vetoes on National Science Awards". Archived from the original on 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/scientists-raise-concern-over-ministerial-vetoes-on-national-science-awards/cid/2051343 ↩
Harigovind, Abhinaya (2024-09-20). "Why two dozen top scientists have expressed concern over the country's flagship science awards". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-science-awards-9578797/ ↩
"Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Chandrayaan-3 team and 32 others selected for first ever edition; Here is full list". The Economic Times. 2024-08-07. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-03-06. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-chandrayaan-3-team-and-32-others-selected-for-first-ever-edition-here-is-full-list/articleshow/112349033.cms ↩
Koshy, Jacob (2024-08-19). "Centre changes award schedule of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-03-06. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-changes-award-schedule-of-rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar/article68543546.ece ↩
"Government announces Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar to recognize science, technology contributions". www.newsonair.gov.in. Akashvani, Govt. of India. Retrieved 15 August 2024. https://www.newsonair.gov.in/government-announces-rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-to-recognise-science-technology-contributions/ ↩
"Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2024". awards.gov.in. CASU, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 15 August 2024. https://awards.gov.in/Home/AwardLibrary ↩
"Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2024". awards.gov.in. CASU, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 15 August 2024. https://awards.gov.in/Home/AwardLibrary ↩
Mudur, G.S. (20 August 2024). "'Gatekeeping' fear over science awards list edits, Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar names 'dropped'". The Telegraph. https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/gatekeeping-fear-over-science-awards-list-edits-rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-names-dropped/cid/2042124 ↩
"Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Exclusion of scientist critical of BJP raises questions". EdexLive. 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.edexlive.com/news/2024/Aug/23/rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-exclusion-of-scientist-critical-of-bjp-raises-questions ↩
Chopra, Ritika; Harigovind, Abhinaya (2024-09-17). "National Science Awards spark debate: Selection criteria questioned after govt critics dropped from shortlist". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/scientists-question-top-award-process-as-names-deleted-from-shortlist-9571516/ ↩
Ananya (9 Oct 2024). "Indian government accused of political meddling in science prizes". Science. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.science.org/content/article/indian-government-accused-political-meddling-science-prizes ↩
Dutt, Anonna (2024-09-28). "'Shocking, Ministers can't veto experts' picks,' Scientists write second letter to Govt on National Science Awards". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/national-science-award-row-scientists-letter-selection-criteria-9591029/ ↩
Deb, Abhik (2024-09-17). "'Unfair considerations?': 26 scientists express concern about new process for prestigious award". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://scroll.in/article/1073359/unfair-considerations-26-scientists-express-concern-about-new-process-for-prestigious-award ↩
Ray, Kalyan. "Scientists voice concerns about Centre's decision to overrule expert panel picks for Bhatnagar award". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/scientists-voice-concerns-about-centres-decision-to-overrule-expert-panel-picks-for-bhatnagar-award-3210386 ↩
Mudur, G.S. "Scientists raise concern over ministerial vetoes on National Science Awards". Archived from the original on 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/scientists-raise-concern-over-ministerial-vetoes-on-national-science-awards/cid/2051343 ↩
"Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) - 2024 : Final List of Awardees" (PDF). awards.gov.in. CASU, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 15 August 2024. https://awards.gov.in/Home/GoToIndex?filename=Award%2FCommunication%2F202488013634H24ZU2.pdf ↩
"Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Chandrayaan-3 team and 32 others selected for first ever edition". The Economic Times. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-chandrayaan-3-team-and-32-others-selected-for-first-ever-edition-here-is-full-list/articleshow/112349033.cms?from=mdr ↩
Mudur, G.S. (20 August 2024). "'Gatekeeping' fear over science awards list edits, Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar names 'dropped'". The Telegraph. https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/gatekeeping-fear-over-science-awards-list-edits-rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-names-dropped/cid/2042124 ↩
"Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Exclusion of scientist critical of BJP raises questions". EdexLive. 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2025-03-27. https://www.edexlive.com/news/2024/Aug/23/rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar-exclusion-of-scientist-critical-of-bjp-raises-questions ↩
Koshy, Jacob (2024-09-16). "Scientists pen letter to Principal Scientific Adviser demanding 'transparency' on Vigyan Puraskar". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-03-27. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/scientists-pen-letter-to-principal-scientific-adviser-demanding-transparency-on-vigyan-puraskar/article68648998.ece ↩
Chopra, Ritika; Harigovind, Abhinaya (2024-09-17). "National Science Awards spark debate: Selection criteria questioned after govt critics dropped from shortlist". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/scientists-question-top-award-process-as-names-deleted-from-shortlist-9571516/ ↩
"Scientists raise concerns over National Science Awards after alleged exclusion of government critics". The New Indian Express. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2025-03-27. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Sep/17/scientists-raise-concerns-over-national-science-awards-after-alleged-exclusion-of-government-critics ↩
Deb, Abhik (2024-09-17). "'Unfair considerations?': 26 scientists express concern about new process for prestigious award". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://scroll.in/article/1073359/unfair-considerations-26-scientists-express-concern-about-new-process-for-prestigious-award ↩
Chopra, Ritika; Harigovind, Abhinaya (2024-09-17). "National Science Awards spark debate: Selection criteria questioned after govt critics dropped from shortlist". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/scientists-question-top-award-process-as-names-deleted-from-shortlist-9571516/ ↩
Pillai, Soumya (2024-09-17). "Growing chorus of concern over Vigyan awards selection criteria, scientists allege last-minute changes". ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-03-27. https://theprint.in/science/growing-chorus-of-concern-over-vigyan-awards-selection-criteria-scientists-allege-last-minute-changes/2271410/ ↩
Pillai, Soumya (2024-09-17). "Growing chorus of concern over Vigyan awards selection criteria, scientists allege last-minute changes". ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-03-27. https://theprint.in/science/growing-chorus-of-concern-over-vigyan-awards-selection-criteria-scientists-allege-last-minute-changes/2271410/ ↩
Deb, Abhik (2024-09-17). "'Unfair considerations?': 26 scientists express concern about new process for prestigious award". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://scroll.in/article/1073359/unfair-considerations-26-scientists-express-concern-about-new-process-for-prestigious-award ↩
Dutt, Anonna (2024-09-28). "'Shocking, Ministers can't veto experts' picks,' Scientists write second letter to Govt on National Science Awards". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/national-science-award-row-scientists-letter-selection-criteria-9591029/ ↩
Ananya (9 Oct 2024). "Indian government accused of political meddling in science prizes". Science. Retrieved 2025-02-23. https://www.science.org/content/article/indian-government-accused-political-meddling-science-prizes ↩
Pillai, Soumya (2024-09-28). "Decision on Vigyan awardees final, ministry officials say after 176 more scientists question 'omissions'". ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-03-27. https://theprint.in/science/decision-on-vigyan-awardees-final-ministry-officials-say-after-176-more-scientists-question-omissions/2288660/ ↩