September 19, 2023 09:26 pm | Updated September 20, 2023 10:35 am IST – NEW DELHI
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar awards can be introduced yearly on May 11, which is National Technology Day, and can be awarded on National Space Day, August 23. Illustration for illustration function solely.
Nearly a yr after the Union Government determined to reduce the variety of prizes yearly awarded by its science-affiliated Ministries, it has instituted the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) — 56 prizes to felicitate scientists, technologists and innovators. Akin to the distinguished Padma awards, these awards won’t embrace any money element; as a substitute, they may possible bestow solely a certificates and medallion on the awardee, sources confirmed to The Hindu.
According to the proposal seen by The Hindu, which is but to be made public, the RVP will comprise three Vigyan Ratna awards, in addition to 25 Vigyan Shri, 25 Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, and three Vigyan Team awards.
Multi-disciplinary
These prizes can be awarded yearly for physics, chemistry, organic sciences, arithmetic and pc science, earth science, medication, engineering science, agricultural science, environmental science, know-how and innovation, atomic vitality, house science and know-how, and a 13th class, merely referred to as ‘Others’.
“It may be ensured that each domain may be represented. Adequate representation of women may also be ensured,” stated the proposal forwarded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Cash prizes unlikely
The 56 proposed awards are a stark discount from the virtually 300 science prizes that used to be given by Union Ministries. In their earlier avatar, the prizes additionally had a major money element. The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) awards, given by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) since 1958, now consists of ₹5 lakh per winner, in addition to a wage perk. In truth, the federal government introduced the names of 12 winners of the SSB awards simply final week, after a yr’s delay .The National Technology Awards, given to groups by the Technology Development Board (a DST entity), additionally embrace money prizes price ₹25 lakh.
Open to PIOs
The new awards will even be open to individuals of Indian origin (PIOs), although a most of 1 such could also be awarded the Vigyan Ratna, whereas three PIOs every could be chosen for the Vigyan Shri and the VY-SSB. However, PIOs won’t be eligible for the Vigyan Team awards.
The Vigyan Ratna awards shall be for “lifetime contributions along with excellence made in any field of science”, the Vigyan Shri for “distinguished contribution to any field”, and the SSB for “exceptional contribution by young scientists”. The group awards shall be for 3 or extra researchers who’ve made an “exceptional contribution as a team”. There are not any age limits for any prizes besides the SSB, for which recipients have to be 45 years or youthful.
Starting in 2024
The awards can be introduced yearly on May 11, which is National Technology Day, and can be awarded on National Space Day, August 23. These are the times on which India efficiently performed its second nuclear take a look at in 1998, and then catapulted the Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander on the moon this yr.
The RVP awards, which is able to begin from 2024, can be conferred by the President of India or the Vice President, in accordance to the proposal. A committee can be constituted yearly, comprising the Secretaries of six science Ministries, up to 4 presidents of science and engineering academies, and six distinguished scientists and technologists from numerous fields. The CSIR will coordinate the administration of the awards course of for 2 years, after which will probably be taken over by the proposed National Research Foundation.
Truncation from 300 awards
The RVP awards are a significant truncation of the practically 300 awards that got by scientific Ministries, although most of those have been inner awards. The DST, as an example, used to award 207 prizes, of which 4 have been nationwide awards, 97 have been personal endowment awards, 54 have been lecture or scholarship awards, and 56 have been inner awards. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) used to give 25 efficiency awards, conferred by public sector models, and 13 “non-core” area awards.
Last yr, an MHA-constituted committee determined to cast off all of the atomic vitality awards, and change them with “an award of very high stature.” As per the most recent suggestion, all inner awards of departments can be discontinued, save one award of the DAE within the identify of Homi Jehangir Bhabha with a most of 30 recipients. Internal awards given by the Department of Space, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences have additionally been rescinded.
- The Union Government has instituted the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) — 56 prizes to felicitate scientists, technologists and innovators.
- Akin to the distinguished Padma awards, these awards won’t embrace any money element; as a substitute, they may possible bestow solely a certificates and medallion on the awardee.
- The RVP will comprise three Vigyan Ratna awards, in addition to 25 Vigyan Shri, 25 Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, and three Vigyan Team awards.
