nominations-have-been-invited-for-first-ever-rashtriya-vigyan-puraskar

On January 14, 2024, the government called for nominations for the "Rashtriya Vigyan Puruskar", which is the first-ever national science award conferred upon individuals or teams from various fields of science, technology and technology-led innovation.

 

The awards, presented across four categories, were instituted last year after scrapping more than 300 awards given by different instituions and will comprise a medal and a citation but no cash component. 

 

The last date for filing nominations is February 28, which is celebrated as National Science Day. The awards is expected to announce on May 11, National technological day, which is the birth anniversary of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests. 

 

The awards will be conferred on August 23, National space day to commemorate Chandryaan-3 mission's soft landing on the moon. 

 

A total of 56 awards will be given in four categories across 13 domains- physics, chemistry, biological sciences, mathematics and computer science, earth sciences, agricultural sciences, envrionmental sciences, technology and innovation, atomic energy, space science and technology.

 

A maximum of three Vigyan Ratna(VR)awards will also be bestoweed to recognise lifetime achievments and contributions made in the field of science and technology. In addition, 25 Vigyan Shri(VS) will be given to recognise the distinguished contributions in the given field of science and technology. 

 

The Vigyan Yuva:Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar(VY-SSB) award will be given to maximum of 25 recipients to recognise and encourage young scientists who made an exceptional contribution in the given field of science and technology.

 

A notification stated, "The RVP shall be one of the highest recognition in the field of science, technology and innovation in India. Scientists/technologists/innovators working in government, private sector organisations or individuals working outside any organisation, who have made distinguished contributions in terms of path-breaking research or innovation or discovery in any fields of science, technology or tech-led innovation shall be eligible for the awards"

 

The honors will not be granted after death, unless in instances deemed "highly deserving"