Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Overview
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is the highest national award in India for people working in science, technology, and innovation. It is given by the Government of India to honor scientists, engineers, and innovators who have made important and inspiring contributions to the country.
The award recognizes work in many different fields of science, such as:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Earth Science
- Medicine
- Engineering
- Agriculture
- Environmental Science
- Space and Atomic Energy
- Technology and Innovation
This award shows India’s strong focus on scientific growth and new ideas. It also encourages people to use science and technology for the development of the nation.
History of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar
The award was instituted in January 2024, with the first set of recipients announced on 7 August 2024. The distribution ceremony took place on 22 August 2024, just a day before National Space Day. Each award includes a certificate signed by the President of India and a medallion.
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Winners List (2024-2026)
| Images | Category | Winner Name | Field | Institute/Organisation/University | |
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Vigyan Ratna Award | Prof. Govindarajan Padmanabhan | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru | |
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NASI Honorary Scientist & Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore: Prof. Padmanabhan played a pivotal role in establishing the Biotechnology Industry Assistance Council, New Delhi, which supports over 1,800 incubatees and has enabled the development of more than 800 biotechnology products. His research elucidated the heme biosynthetic pathway of Plasmodium, the parasite responsible for malaria, and he has pioneered several molecular biology and biotechnology initiatives in India.
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Vigyan Shri | Dr. Anandharamakrishnan C | Agricultural Science | CSIR - National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) Thiruvananthapuram | |
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Director, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram: Dr. Anandharamakrishnan has made significant contributions to food processing, advancing innovative technologies, nutrient delivery systems, 3D food printing, and food structure and digestion. His work supports the development of sustainable food systems.
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Vigyan Shri | Dr. Avesh Kumar Tyagi | Atomic Energy | Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Mumbai | |
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Distinguished Scientist & Director, Chemistry Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai: Dr. Tyagi is a globally recognized scientist who has made groundbreaking contributions to processes and materials essential to India’s atomic energy program.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Umesh Varshney | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore | |
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Honorary Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru: Prof. Varshney is an eminent biologist known for his fundamental research on protein synthesis and DNA repair in bacteria such as E. coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, contributing to potential TB vaccine development.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Jayant Bhalchandra Udgaonkar | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (IISER) Pune | |
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Professor, IISER Pune: Prof. Udgaonkar has made outstanding contributions to structural biology, particularly in understanding protein folding and misfolding.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Syed Wajih Ahmad Naqvi | Earth Science | CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) Lucknow | |
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National Science Chair, CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow: A distinguished biogeochemical oceanographer, Prof. Naqvi’s pioneering research has had a lasting and transformative impact on oceanography.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Bhim Singh | Engineering Sciences | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-D) Delhi | |
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SERB National Science Chair & Emeritus Professor, IIT Delhi: Prof. Singh is a prolific researcher in power electronics, known for his work in power quality, multipulse converters, and solar photovoltaic power generation.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Adimurthi Adi | Mathematics and Computer Science | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K) Kanpur | |
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Distinguished Visiting Professor, IIT Kanpur: Prof. Adimurthi has made fundamental contributions to partial differential equations, including semilinear elliptic PDEs, functional inequalities, and hyperbolic conservation laws.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Rahul Mukherjee | Mathematics and Computer Science | Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta | |
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National Science Chair, INSA & IIM Kolkata: Prof. Mukherjee is widely recognized for his contributions to mathematical statistics, including design of experiments, Bayesian theory, asymptotic analysis, and survey sampling.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Dr Sanjay Behari | Medicine | Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology Thiruvananthapuram | |
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Director, SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram: A leading figure in neurosurgery, Prof. Behari has advanced medical research, technology, and infrastructure, fostering innovation that translates into patents and medical devices.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Lakshmanan Muthusamy | Physics | Bharathidasan University Tiruchirappalli | |
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Professor of Eminence & SERB National Science Chair, Bharathidasan University: Prof. Muthusamy is a prominent physicist specializing in nonlinear dynamics, with interdisciplinary applications across biology, chemistry, economics, and sociology.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Naba Kumar Mondal | Physics | Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics Kolkata | |
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INSA Senior Scientist, SINP, Kolkata: A leading experimental particle physicist, Prof. Mondal has contributed significantly to neutrino physics and led the design of detectors for the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO).
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Vigyan Shri | Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam | Space Science and Technology | Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bengaluru | |
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Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru: Prof. Subramaniam has made pioneering contributions to stellar and galactic astrophysics and played a key role in the Astrosat mission.
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Vigyan Shri | Prof Rohit Srivastava | Technology and Innovation | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-B) Mumbai | |
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Chair Professor, IIT Bombay: Prof. Srivastava has contributed significantly to biomedical microsystems and nanoengineered biosensors, developing technologies such as mobile-based diagnostics and noninvasive health monitoring tools.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Krishna Murthy S L | Agricultural Science | Indian Institute of Rice Research Hyderabad | |
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Senior Scientist, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad: Dr. Murthy has developed salt-tolerant rice varieties and genetic stocks, significantly aiding agricultural productivity in saline conditions.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Swarup Kumar Parida | Agricultural Science | National Institute of Plant Genome Research New Delhi | |
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Scientist, NIPGR, New Delhi: Dr. Parida has advanced molecular breeding techniques to improve stress tolerance, yield, and plant architecture in crops like rice and chickpea.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Radhakrishnan Mahalakshmi | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal | |
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Professor, IISER Bhopal: Prof. Mahalakshmi’s work in mitochondrial membrane protein biophysics has important implications for disease treatment through peptide-based therapeutics.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Aravind Penmatsa | Biological Sciences | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru | |
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Assistant Professor, IISc Bengaluru: Prof. Penmatsa has provided key structural insights into neurotransmitter transport and antibiotic resistance mechanisms, aiding biomedical research.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Vivek Polshettiwar | Chemistry | Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai | |
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Professor, TIFR Mumbai: Known for his innovative work in nanocatalysis, Prof. Polshettiwar has contributed to sustainable chemistry and advanced materials research.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Vishal Rai | Chemistry | Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal | |
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IISER Bhopal: Prof. Rai has made significant contributions to protein engineering, supporting biopharmaceutical advancements in cancer therapeutics.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Roxy Mathew Koll | Earth Science | Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune | |
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Scientist F, IITM Pune: Dr. Koll has made pathbreaking contributions to understanding Indian Ocean warming and its impact on monsoons and marine ecosystems.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Abhilash | Engineering Sciences | CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory Jamshedpur | |
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CSIR-NML, Jamshedpur: Dr. Abhilash has developed indigenous technologies for extracting critical metals from industrial waste and advancing recycling processes.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Radha Krishna Ganti | Engineering Sciences | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-M) Chennai | |
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Professor, IIT Madras: Dr. Ganti has led the development of indigenous 5G base station technologies, including advanced MIMO systems.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Purabi Saikia | Environmental Science | Central University of Jharkhand Ranchi | |
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Assistant Professor, Central University of Jharkhand: Dr. Saikia specializes in ecological modeling and conservation of rare and endangered plant species, contributing to policy-relevant research.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Bappi Paul | Environmental Science | National Forensic Sciences University Gandhinagar | |
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Assistant Professor, NFSU Gandhinagar: Dr. Paul has developed catalytic processes for converting CO₂ into ethanol and reducing industrial air pollution.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Mahesh Ramesh Kakde | Mathematics and Computer Science | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru | |
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Professor, IISc Bengaluru: Prof. Kakde has made significant advances in number theory, including work on the Iwasawa and Gross-Stark conjectures.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Jitendra Kumar Sahu | Medicine | Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research Chandigarh | |
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PGIMER Chandigarh: A distinguished pediatric neurologist, Prof. Sahu specializes in infantile epileptic disorders and their treatment.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Pragya Dhruv Yadav | Medicine | ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune | |
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Scientist F & Head, ICMR-NIV Pune: Dr. Yadav is an expert in infectious diseases and has contributed to the development and evaluation of COVID-19 vaccines.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Urbasi Sinha | Physics | Raman Research Institute Bengaluru | |
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Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru: Prof. Sinha is renowned for her work in quantum information science, including landmark experiments validating quantum mechanics principles.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Digendranath Swain | Space Science and Technology | ISRO-Vikram Sarabhai Space Center Thiruvananthapuram | |
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ISRO, Thiruvananthapuram: Dr. Swain specializes in experimental solid mechanics for launch vehicles, contributing to structural testing and validation.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Dr. Prashant Kumar | Space Science and Technology | ISRO-Space Applications Centre Ahmedabad | |
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ISRO SAC Ahmedabad: Dr. Kumar has contributed to atmospheric science and developed high-resolution weather forecasting systems used by IMD.
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Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award | Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal | Technology and Innovation | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-M) Chennai | |
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IIT Madras: Prof. Rajagopal is known for pioneering research in ultrasonic sensing, robotic inspection, and metamaterials.
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Vigyan Team | ISRO - Team Chandrayaan 3 | Space Science and Technology | Indian Space Research Organisation Bengaluru | |
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Team Chandrayaan-3: Indian Space Research Organisation, Bengaluru: The Chandrayaan-3 team is recognized for achieving one of India’s most globally celebrated scientific milestones, showcasing excellence in space technology through collaborative effort.
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Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar FAQs
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is a recognized award honoring excellence and achievements in Science category, awarded to deserving individuals or organizations worldwide.
It is a Science award category, recognizing outstanding contributions, performance, and excellence in Science field or domain globally.
This award is given for Recognize and inspire scientists and technologists who have made important discoveries and contributions that benefit society., honoring individuals or groups who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and contributions in this area.
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is presented by Government of India, recognizing excellence and honoring individuals for their significant achievements and contributions.
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar was first awarded in 22 August 2024, marking the beginning of recognizing excellence and achievements in its respective category.
The most recent Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar was awarded in 2026, continuing its tradition of recognizing excellence and outstanding achievements globally.
Currently, the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is Continue, indicating whether the award is actively presented or has been discontinued officially.
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is awarded by India, recognizing achievements and honoring individuals or organizations associated with India country and its excellence.
