Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar – Second Edition

Introduction

  • India’s highest national science awards, honouring excellence, innovation, and high-impact contributions in science and technology.
  • Instituted by the Ministry of Science and Technology and modelled on the Padma Awards.
  • Covers 13 key scientific domains, including Space Science, Atomic Energy, Engineering, and Medicine.
  • Subtopic: Why in news?
  • The President of India presented the 2nd edition of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, honouring 24 scientists across diverse scientific disciplines.
  • The Vigyan Ratna was awarded posthumously to Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, a renowned Indian astrophysicist.

Background

  • The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is conferred under four categories:
  • Vigyan Ratna (VR): Highest science award of India, given for lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions.
  • Vigyan Shri (VS): Awarded for distinguished and sustained contributions in a specific field.
  • Vigyan Yuva–Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY–SSB): For scientists below 45 years, recognising young scientific talent.
  • Vigyan Team (VT): Conferred for exceptional collaborative research and teamwork.

Significance

  • Strengthens India’s scientific ecosystem by promoting innovation and excellence.
  • Recognises collaborative research, reflecting modern scientific practices.
  • Subtopic: Facts/General knowledge
  • Vigyan Ratna (VR):
  • Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (posthumous), globally known for co-developing the Hoyle–Narlikar Theory of Gravity, an alternative to Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity that supports the Steady State Model of the Universe, offering a non–Big Bang cosmological perspective.
  • Vigyan Shri (VS) – Distinguished Contributions:
  • Gyanendra Pratap Singh – Agricultural Science
  • Yusuf Mohammad Shaikh – Atomic Energy
  • Thangaraj – Biological Sciences
  • Pradeep Thalappil – Chemistry
  • Aniruddha Bhalchandra Pandit – Engineering Sciences
  • Venkata Mohan – Environmental Science
  • Mahan Mj – Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Jayan N. – Space Science and Technology
  • Vigyan Yuva–Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY–SSB) – Young Scientist Award:
  • Jagadis Gupta Kapuganti – Agricultural Science
  • Satendra Kumar Mangrauthia – Agricultural Science
  • Debarka Sengupta – Biological Sciences
  • Deepa Agashe – Biological Sciences
  • Dibyendu Das – Chemistry
  • Waliur Rahaman – Earth Science
  • Arkaprava Basu – Engineering Sciences
  • Sabyasachi Mukherjee – Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Shweta Prem Agrawal – Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Suresh Kumar – Medicine
  • Amit Kumar Agrawal – Physics
  • Surhud Shrikant More – Physics
  • Ankur Garg – Space Science and Technology
  • Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam – Technology and Innovation
  • Vigyan Team (VT):
  • CSIR Aroma Mission – Agricultural Science