The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, honored the nation’s top scientists today (August 22, 2024) by presenting the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar-2024 at a prestigious ceremony held at the Gantantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan. This inaugural edition of the awards recognized 33 exceptional scientists across four distinct categories: Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva, and Vigyan Team.
The highest honor, the Vigyan Ratna Award, was conferred upon Prof. Govindarajan Padmanabhan for his lifetime contributions to molecular biology and biotechnology, marking him as a trailblazer in these critical fields of research in India.
In the Vigyan Shri category, which celebrates significant contributions to Science and Technology, 13 scientists were recognized for their groundbreaking work. Among them, Dr. Anandharamakrishnan C received the Vigyan Shri Award for his outstanding research in Agricultural Sciences.
The Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award, designed to acknowledge young scientists for their exceptional contributions, was presented to 18 promising researchers. Their work ranged from studying the warming of the Indian Ocean and its implications to advancing the development of indigenous 5G technology and conducting precision tests in quantum mechanics. Notable recipients include Dr. Krishna Murthy S L and Dr. Swarup Kumar Parida, who were recognized for their pioneering efforts in Agricultural Sciences.
Additionally, the Vigyan Team Award was awarded to the Chandrayaan-3 team for their remarkable achievement in successfully landing the Chandrayaan-3 lander near the moon's south pole, a significant milestone in India’s space exploration history.
This event marks a new chapter in India's recognition of scientific excellence, celebrating the diverse and impactful contributions of its scientific community.
See the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar –2024