President Murmu Gives away first-ever Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar [Current Affairs]

President Droupadi Murmu presided over the first-ever investiture ceremony for the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (National Science Awards). These awards, instituted last year to replace all existing science accolades, mark a new chapter in recognizing scientific excellence in the country.

The Prestigious Vigyan Ratna Puraskar

Honoring a Lifetime of Scientific Achievement

The ceremony’s highlight was the conferral of the inaugural Vigyan Ratna Puraskar, India’s highest science award, to Govindrajan Padmanabhan, a renowned biochemist and former director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. This award acknowledges Dr. Padmanabhan’s significant contributions to biochemistry and his leadership in Indian scientific research.

Vigyan Shri Puraskar: Recognizing Scientific Eminence

The President awarded 13 Vigyan Shri Puraskars to distinguished scientists across various fields. Notable recipients included:

• Annapurni Subramaniam: Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru
• Anandharamakrishnan C: Director, National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram
• Avesh Kumar Tyagi: Director, Chemistry Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Institute
• Syed Wajih Ahmad Naqvi: CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow

Other esteemed awardees came from prestigious institutions such as IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur, IIM-Kolkata, and the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology.

Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes: Nurturing Young Talent

The ceremony saw the presentation of 18 Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes, celebrating young scientists’ innovative work. Key recipients included:

• Roxy Mathew Koll: Climate scientist, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
• Pragya Dhruv Yadav: ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, recognized for her crucial role in COVID-19 vaccine development
• Urbasi Sinha: Raman Research Institute, Bangalore
• Digendranath Swain: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

Vigyan Team Award: Celebrating Collective Scientific Achievement

Honouring the Chandrayaan-3 Mission

The Vigyan Team Award was bestowed upon the scientists and engineers behind the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. P Veeramuthuvel, the project director, accepted the award on behalf of the team, highlighting India’s growing prowess in space exploration.

The Ceremony: A Celebration of Scientific Excellence

The award ceremony took place in the Ganatantra Mandapam of Rashtrapati Bhawan, providing a prestigious backdrop for this significant event. All awardees received medals and citations, recognizing their outstanding achievements in their respective fields.