Dr. Rajendra Singh Paroda, Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences and President of the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources, has been conferred with the prestigious ‘Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the National Academy of Biological Sciences (NABS).
The honor was bestowed upon him during the 14th NABS National Conference on Innovations in Biology and Biotechnology for their Application in Agriculture and Animal Sciences for Food Security, held on January 28-29, 2025, at the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Kudumiyanmalai, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).
Dr. Paroda, a distinguished agricultural scientist, has significantly contributed to India's agricultural research and development. He previously served as the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India. Additionally, he was the General President of the Indian Science Congress Association (2000-2001) and President of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) from 1998 to 2000.
Recognized for his invaluable contributions to the field of agriculture, Dr. Paroda was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1998. He also received the Norman Borlaug Award on January 5, 2006, from then-President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam at the 93rd Indian Science Congress in Hyderabad.
In addition to this recent honor, Dr. Paroda was previously felicitated with the ‘Prof. S. Kannaiyan Memorial Award’ in 2012 during the inaugural function of NABS’ 5th Interactive Workshop on Prospects of Medicinal Plants in Promoting Wellness, held at the University of Madras, Guindy, Chennai.
This latest recognition by NABS further underscores Dr. Paroda’s enduring contributions to agricultural research, food security, and scientific advancements in India.
