The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is a prestigious award in India designed to recognize and honour outstanding contributions to science and technology. This award is part of the Indian government’s efforts to promote scientific research and innovation across various fields, including fundamental science, applied science, and interdisciplinary research. Read here to learn more.
The newly proposed Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (National Science Awards) represents a significant shift in how India recognizes and rewards contributions to science and technology.
This new awards structure is set to replace the existing system of national science awards, which had been criticized for several reasons, including a lack of transparency, outdated criteria, and insufficient representation of diverse scientific fields.
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar
The award aims to encourage and celebrate excellence in science and technology by recognizing individual scientists, research groups, and institutions that have made significant contributions to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation.
- Eligibility: The award is open to Indian citizens including Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), whether working in India or abroad and institutions engaged in scientific research and development. Nominees are usually evaluated based on the impact of their work, originality, and contributions to the field.
- Selection Process: A high-level committee composed of eminent scientists and experts in various fields is responsible for evaluating the nominations and selecting the awardees. The selection process is rigorous, ensuring that only the most deserving candidates are recognized.
- Award Ceremony: The award is presented by a high-ranking government official, often the President or Prime Minister of India, during a formal ceremony. Awardees receive a medal, a citation, and a cash prize.
- Impact: The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar not only honours the recipients but also aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers. It highlights the importance of scientific research in driving national progress and addresses key challenges in society.
Categories of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar typically includes several categories, covering different areas of scientific research, such as physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, environmental science, and more.
The awards shall be given in the following four categories:
- Vigyan Ratna (VR): Maximum of three awards to be bestowed to recognize lifetime achievements & contributions made in a given field of Science and Technology.
- Vigyan Shri (VS): A maximum of 25 awards to be given to recognize the distinguished contributions in a given field of Science and Technology.
- Vigyan Yuva (replacing Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) award: Maximum of 25 awards to be given to recognize and encourage young scientists who made an exceptional contribution in a given field of Science and Technology.
- Vigyan Team (VT) award: A maximum of three awards may be awarded to a team comprising of three or more scientists/researchers/innovators who have made an exceptional contribution working in a team in a given field of Science and Technology.
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar shall be given in the following 13 domains, namely:
- 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
Significance of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar
- Inclusive and Diverse Recognition: The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is designed to be more inclusive, covering a broader range of scientific disciplines and acknowledging contributions from both well-established and emerging fields of science and technology.
- This is a departure from previous awards, which often focused narrowly on certain scientific achievements, sometimes overlooking significant contributions in interdisciplinary and applied sciences.
- Transparent Selection Process: A key feature of the new awards is a more transparent and objective selection process.
- This aims to address past criticisms where the selection criteria were seen as opaque and prone to favouritism.
- The revamped process will likely involve a broader panel of experts, clear guidelines, and possibly public nominations, ensuring that deserving scientists from all backgrounds are considered.
- Alignment with Contemporary Science Practices: The awards are expected to reflect the changing nature of scientific practice, which is increasingly collaborative and interdisciplinary.
- By recognizing teamwork and interdisciplinary efforts, the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar could encourage more innovative and cross-disciplinary research, which is essential for addressing complex global challenges.
- Encouraging Young Scientists: The awards are likely to place a stronger emphasis on encouraging young scientists and early-career researchers.
- This focus on nurturing the next generation of scientists could help India maintain its competitive edge in global science and technology, ensuring that innovative and fresh ideas are brought to the forefront.
- Promoting Science in Society: Beyond recognizing individual achievements, the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is also expected to encourage a greater appreciation of science in society.
- This aligns with broader governmental and societal efforts to foster a science culture in India, encouraging public engagement with science and inspiring future generations.
Challenges and Considerations
As India moves forward with the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, it must ensure that the new system overcomes the challenges that plagued previous awards.
This includes ensuring that the awards are not just ceremonial but contribute to the promotion of scientific excellence and innovation.
Additionally, the selection process must be rigorous yet fair, avoiding the pitfalls of bureaucracy or bias that have undermined the credibility of previous awards.
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2024
The government has announced the first set of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, or national awards for scientists, ever since it controversially cut down the number of such awards in 2022.
Thirty-three of these awards are slated to be given on August 23, the National Space Day to mark Chandrayaan 3’s moon landing, and were announced on Wednesday (August 7, 2024).
- Former IISc director G Padmanabhan will be receiving the first Vigyan Ratna award.
- The Vigyan team award is being awarded to the Chandrayaan-3 team.
Conclusion
The newly proposed Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar structure is significant for many reasons. In a welcome step to move beyond recognitions largely restricted to scientists with regular positions in academia, the new awards are also open to innovators and technologists, including those in industry, and with diverse, non-regular affiliations.
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is a symbol of India’s commitment to fostering a strong scientific community and advancing the country’s position in global science and technology.
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-Article by Swathi Satish
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