India to Introduce Rashtriya Vigyan Puruskar for Scientists

• 22 Sep 2023

Recently, the Government of India announced that it is set to establish the Rashtriya Vigyan Puruskar to recognize the contributions of scientists, with awards distributed across four categories.

Key Points

Categories of Recognition:

• The awards will encompass four categories:
  • Vigyan Ratna: Recognizing lifetime achievements of scientists.
  • Vigyan Shri: Acknowledging distinguished contributions to a specific field.
  • Vigyan Yuva–Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar: Encouraging young scientists who have made exceptional contributions.
  • Vigyan Team: Recognizing collaborative efforts of teams comprising three or more individuals.
• Recognition Domains: The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar will be conferred across 13 domains, encompassing areas such as Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Technology and Innovation, Atomic Energy, Space Science and Technology.
• The government emphasizes the importance of ensuring adequate representation of women in these domains.
• Annual Awards Distribution: Annually, there will be three Vigyan Ratnas, 25 Vigyan Shris, 25 Vigyan Yuvas, and 3 Vigyan Teams. Only the Vigyan Yuva category will have an age limit of 45 years.
• Award Ceremony Date: The award ceremony will take place on National Space Day, August 23, which commemorates the day India's Chandrayaan-3 mission landed on the Moon.
• Rationalizing Science Awards: The introduction of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puruskar aligns with the government's effort to rationalize awards in the field of science and technology. It seeks to enhance the prestige and value of these awards by reducing their numbers and eliminating endowments.