Govt announces Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: What are they?

The “Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar” is a brand-new collection of national awards from the Indian government in the areas of innovation, technology, and science.

These honors are intended to recognize outstanding achievements made in a variety of scientific and technological fields by scientists, technologists, and innovators working alone or in teams.

It is available to people of Indian origin living abroad whose achievements have benefitted Indian society as well as those who work for the government, for-profit organizations, or individually.

  To honor scientists, the Central Government has planned to institute 56 awards in the Rashtriya Puraskar category (3 Vigyan Ratna, 25 Vigyan Shri, 25 Yuva Vigyan Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, and 3 Vigyan Team Awards).

The prizes will be presented on National Space Day, August 23, 2024, and will be publicized each year on National Technology Day, May 11. Akin to prestigious Padma awards, these awards will not include any cash component.

The Rashtriya Puraskar shall be given in the 13 science-related domains including 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

Vigyan Ratna Awards:

These awards will recognise lifetime achievements & contributions made in any field of science and technology.

Vigyan Shri Awards:

These awards will recognise distinguished contributions to any field of science and technology.

Vigyan Team Awards:

These awards are to be given to a team comprising of three or more scientists/researchers/innovators who have made an exceptional contribution working in a team in any field of science and technology.

Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB):

These awards are the highest multidisciplinary science awards in India for the young scientists (maximum 45 years).

They are named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the founder and director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), who was also a renowned chemist and visionary.

PIOs Are Now Eligible for New Awards:  PIOs are now eligible for the new awards, albeit only one PIO is allowed to win the Vigyan Ratna.The Vigyan Shri and the VY-SSB both allow the selection of three PIOs. PIOs won’t be qualified for the Team prizes, though.

The awards will be given on National Technology Day, The day, which was first marked in 1999, is intended to honor the technical and scientific advancements made by Indian engineers and scientists.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a former prime minister, gave the holiday its name.

The Technology Development Board of India, which is part of the Ministry of Science and Technology, recognizes individuals with the National Award for their contributions to science and technology on this day each year.

On May 11, 1998, India conducted a successful nuclear bomb test at Pokhran.

Operation Pokhran-II, also known as Operation Shakti, saw India successfully test-fire its Shakti-1 nuclear missile.

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