Our Bureau
New Delhi
Govindarajan Padmanabhan, a celebrated biochemist, has been selected as the recipient of India’s first ‘Vigyan Ratna’ award, the country’s top science honor, for his lifetime achievements and contributions to the field of science and technology. The announcement was made by the government on Wednesday, along with the selection of ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 team for the inaugural ‘Vigyan Team’ award.
Padmanabhan, a Padma Bhushan awardee, is currently an honorary professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. The ‘Vigyan Ratna’ award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to their respective fields of science and technology.
In addition to the ‘Vigyan Ratna’ award, the government has announced 33 recipients for the ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ 2024, which includes 18 ‘Vigyan Yuva: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar’ awards for young scientists and 13 ‘Vigyan Shri’ awards for distinguished contributions. The ‘Vigyan Yuva’ award aims to recognize and encourage young scientists, while the ‘Vigyan Shri’ award is given to those who have made significant contributions to their fields.
The ‘Vigyan Team’ award, which will be presented to the Chandrayaan-3 team, recognizes the exceptional contributions made by a team of three or more scientists. This award highlights the collaborative efforts and achievements of the ISRO team behind the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission.
The ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ was instituted by the government in January, rationalizing all science awards in the country on the lines of the Padma awards. Unlike previous science awards, the ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ will not have a cash component, but the awardees will receive a medallion and a citation (‘sanad’).
The awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan on National Space Day, August 23.
Govindarajan Padmanabhan’s selection for the ‘Vigyan Ratna’ award is a testament to his remarkable contributions to the field of biochemistry and his dedication to advancing scientific knowledge. His work has not only enriched the scientific community but has also had a significant impact on society as a whole.
