The Government of India has announced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 , one of the country’s highest recognitions for outstanding and inspirational contributions in science, technology and innovation. The awards have been introduced to celebrate pioneering research, encourage excellence and strengthen India’s scientific and technological landscape.
Four categories recognising India’s top scientistsThe Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is presented in four categories — Vigyan Ratna (VR), Vigyan Shri (VS), Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) and Vigyan Team (VT). Together, they cover 13 fields of science, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Space Science.
The Vigyan Ratna recognises lifetime contributions to science and technology. The Vigyan Shri honours exceptional work in specific disciplines. The Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award celebrates scientists below 45 years of age who have shown remarkable achievements, while the Vigyan Team Award acknowledges collaborative research that has made a significant impact.
Professor Jayant Vishnu Narlikar receives Vigyan Ratna posthumouslyThe country’s highest honour, the Vigyan Ratna, has been awarded posthumously to Prof Jayant Vishnu Narlikar for his lifelong contribution to physics and cosmology. Known for his work on conformal gravity and for popularising science in India, Prof Narlikar’s recognition adds to his enduring legacy as one of the most respected astrophysicists of modern times.
Vigyan Shri: Celebrating excellence across scientific fieldsNine scientists have been selected for the Vigyan Shri Award for their notable contributions across disciplines:
Among them are Dr Dibyendu Das (Chemistry), Dr Deepa Agashe and Shri Debarka Sengupta (Biological Sciences), Dr Waliur Rahaman (Earth Science), Prof Suresh Kumar (Medicine), Prof Amit Kumar Agarwal and Prof Surhud Shrikant More (Physics), and Prof Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam (Technology and Innovation).
CSIR’s Aroma Mission team wins Vigyan Team AwardThe Vigyan Team Award has been conferred on the Aroma Mission team from CSIR for their work in advancing agricultural innovation. Their efforts in developing aromatic crops and essential oil technologies have benefited farmers across the country and supported rural livelihoods.
IIT Madras shines with three winnersThree professors from IIT Madras, Prof Pradeep Thalappil, Prof Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam and Prof Shweta Prem Agrawal, are among this year’s awardees. Their selection highlights the institute’s growing leadership in research and technology-driven innovation across disciplines.
Selection and nomination processNominations for the 2025 awards were open from October 4 to November 17, 2024, through the National Awards Portal (awards.gov.in). The selection involved a detailed evaluation by a high-level committee chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, with secretaries of science departments, academy heads and experts serving as members.
Encouraging a culture of innovationThe Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar continues to represent India’s commitment to honouring scientists whose work pushes the boundaries of discovery and innovation. By recognising contributions across 13 disciplines, the awards aim to inspire the next generation of researchers and strengthen the nation’s scientific foundation.
Four categories recognising India’s top scientistsThe Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is presented in four categories — Vigyan Ratna (VR), Vigyan Shri (VS), Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) and Vigyan Team (VT). Together, they cover 13 fields of science, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Space Science.
The Vigyan Ratna recognises lifetime contributions to science and technology. The Vigyan Shri honours exceptional work in specific disciplines. The Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award celebrates scientists below 45 years of age who have shown remarkable achievements, while the Vigyan Team Award acknowledges collaborative research that has made a significant impact.
Professor Jayant Vishnu Narlikar receives Vigyan Ratna posthumouslyThe country’s highest honour, the Vigyan Ratna, has been awarded posthumously to Prof Jayant Vishnu Narlikar for his lifelong contribution to physics and cosmology. Known for his work on conformal gravity and for popularising science in India, Prof Narlikar’s recognition adds to his enduring legacy as one of the most respected astrophysicists of modern times.
Vigyan Shri: Celebrating excellence across scientific fieldsNine scientists have been selected for the Vigyan Shri Award for their notable contributions across disciplines:
- Dr Gyanendra Pratap Singh (Agricultural Science)
- Dr Yusuf Mohammad Seikh (Atomic Energy)
- Dr K Thangaraj (Biological Sciences)
- Prof Pradeep Thalappil (Chemistry)
- Prof Aniruddha Bhalchandra Pandit (Engineering Sciences)
- Dr S Venkata Mohan (Environmental Science)
- Prof Mahan MJ (Mathematics and Computer Science)
- Shri Jayan N (Space Science and Technology)
Among them are Dr Dibyendu Das (Chemistry), Dr Deepa Agashe and Shri Debarka Sengupta (Biological Sciences), Dr Waliur Rahaman (Earth Science), Prof Suresh Kumar (Medicine), Prof Amit Kumar Agarwal and Prof Surhud Shrikant More (Physics), and Prof Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam (Technology and Innovation).
CSIR’s Aroma Mission team wins Vigyan Team AwardThe Vigyan Team Award has been conferred on the Aroma Mission team from CSIR for their work in advancing agricultural innovation. Their efforts in developing aromatic crops and essential oil technologies have benefited farmers across the country and supported rural livelihoods.
IIT Madras shines with three winnersThree professors from IIT Madras, Prof Pradeep Thalappil, Prof Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam and Prof Shweta Prem Agrawal, are among this year’s awardees. Their selection highlights the institute’s growing leadership in research and technology-driven innovation across disciplines.
Selection and nomination processNominations for the 2025 awards were open from October 4 to November 17, 2024, through the National Awards Portal (awards.gov.in). The selection involved a detailed evaluation by a high-level committee chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, with secretaries of science departments, academy heads and experts serving as members.
Encouraging a culture of innovationThe Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar continues to represent India’s commitment to honouring scientists whose work pushes the boundaries of discovery and innovation. By recognising contributions across 13 disciplines, the awards aim to inspire the next generation of researchers and strengthen the nation’s scientific foundation.
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