Government of India has announced Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2025, India’s highest national recognition for exemplary and inspirational contributions in science, technology, and innovation. The awards aim to celebrate pioneering research, honour scientific excellence, and inspire innovation across India’s scientific community.
The awards are conferred across four categories and cover 13 scientific domains including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Medicine, and Space Science.
About Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar
| Particular | Details |
| Instituted by | Government of India |
| Purpose | To honour outstanding contributions in Science, Technology, and Innovation |
| Total Categories | Four |
| Total Domains Covered | 13 |
| First Instituted | 2024 |
| Award Frequency | Annual |
| Administered by | Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India |
| Mode of Nomination | Online via awards.gov.in |
| Selection Authority | High-Level Committee chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) |
| Selection Inputs | Secretaries of Science Departments, Heads of Science Academies, and domain experts |
Four Categories of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar
| Award Category | Purpose / Eligibility |
| Vigyan Ratna (VR) | Lifetime contributions to Science & Technology |
| Vigyan Shri (VS) | Exceptional achievements in specific fields |
| Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) | Outstanding young scientists (below 45 years) |
| Vigyan Team (VT) | Collaborative contributions by research or innovation teams |
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025- Complete List of Awardees
1. Vigyan Ratna (VR)
| Field | Awardee |
| Physics | Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (Posthumously) |
2. Vigyan Shri (VS)
| Field | Awardee |
| Agricultural Science | Dr. Gyanendra Pratap Singh |
| Atomic Energy | Dr. Yusuf Mohammad Seikh |
| Biological Sciences | Dr. K. Thangaraj |
| Chemistry | Prof. Pradeep Thalappil |
| Engineering Sciences | Prof. Aniruddha Bhalchandra Pandit |
| Environmental Science | Dr. S. Venkata Mohan |
| Mathematics & Computer Science | Prof. Mahan MJ |
| Space Science & Technology | Shri Jayan N |
3. Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB)
| Field | Awardees |
| Agricultural Science | Dr. Jagadis Gupta Kapuganti, Dr. Satendra Kumar Mangrauthia |
| Biological Sciences | Shri Debarka Sengupta, Dr. Deepa Agashe |
| Chemistry | Dr. Dibyendu Das |
| Earth Science | Dr. Waliur Rahaman |
| Engineering Sciences | Prof. Arkaprava Basu |
| Mathematics & Computer Science | Prof. Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Prof. Shweta Prem Agrawal |
| Medicine | Dr. Suresh Kumar |
| Physics | Prof. Amit Kumar Agarwal, Prof. Surhud Shrikant More |
| Space Science & Technology | Shri Ankur Garg |
| Technology & Innovation | Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam |
4. Vigyan Team (VT)
| Field | Awardee Team |
| Agricultural Science | Team – Aroma Mission (CSIR) |
Selection and Evaluation Process
- Nominations Period: October 4 to November 17, 2024.
- Portal: awards.gov.in
- Review Process:
- Conducted by a High-Level Committee led by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
- Included Secretaries of Science Departments, Heads of National Science Academies, and subject experts.
- Evaluation Focus: Scientific impact, innovation, societal relevance, and potential for national advancement.
Significance of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar
- Promotes scientific excellence and innovation culture in India.
- Recognizes both senior scientists and young innovators contributing to the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
- Encourages collaborative and interdisciplinary research across public and private scientific institutions.
- Aligns with India’s National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) objectives to foster global leadership in science.
Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (Vigyan Ratna 2025)
- Renowned astrophysicist and founder director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.
- Known for the Steady-State Cosmology Theory with Sir Fred Hoyle.
- Authored popular science books and inspired generations of Indian astrophysicists.
- Recipient of Padma Bhushan (1965) and Padma Vibhushan (2004).
CSIR Aroma Mission (Vigyan Team Award 2025)
- Implemented by: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
- Objective: Enhance aromatic crop cultivation (e.g., lavender, mint, lemongrass) to boost farm income and rural livelihood.
- Known as “Purple Revolution”, especially in Jammu & Kashmir for lavender cultivation.
- Promotes value addition and essential oil exports from India.
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Legacy
- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (1894–1955): Founder Director of CSIR, known as the Father of Research Laboratories in India.
- The Vigyan Yuva – SSB category is named to honour his contributions to Indian science.
- Earlier, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology (SSB) was India’s most prestigious science award (discontinued in 2023, now merged under RVP framework).
Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA)
- Current PSA (2025): Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood.
- Office established in 1999, reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
- Coordinates national R&D strategy, science-policy interface, and innovation ecosystem development.
Key Scientific Bodies Involved
| Body | Function / Association |
| DST (Department of Science & Technology) | Promotes R&D in basic sciences |
| DBT (Department of Biotechnology) | Supports biological and life sciences research |
| CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) | Industrial and applied scientific innovation |
| DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation) | Defence technology advancement |
| ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) | Space technology and applications |
| IITs / IISc | Centres of advanced scientific research and innovation |