Awards Related to Science in India
Science & Technology › Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India · Topic 17.4
India recognises achievement in science through national and institutional awards. The highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, has gone to scientists such as C V Raman in 1954, Sir M Visvesvaraya in 1955, A P J Abdul Kalam in 1997 and C N R Rao in 2013. The Padma awards recognise many scientists. The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, started by CSIR in 1957 for researchers below 45 years, was the leading science prize until 2022. In 2023 the Government created the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, with four categories: Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar and Vigyan Team. The first awards were announced in 2024. Other honours include the Indian National Science Academy medals, the Infosys Prize and the Kalinga Prize of UNESCO.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India
At a Glance
- Old CSIR prize Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, 1957
- New awards Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar
- Categories Ratna, Shri, Yuva, Team
- Bharat Ratna scientists Raman, Kalam, CNR Rao
- UNESCO prize Kalinga Prize
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the account of S&T for human resource development. After talent building, it looks at how the country honours scientific achievement, a common source of factual questions. Previous topic: Science and Technology as a Source of Human Resource Development. Next topic: Department of Science and Technology (DST).
What Are the Main Science Awards of India?
| Award | Details |
|---|---|
| Bharat Ratna | The highest civilian award. Scientists honoured: C V Raman (1954), M Visvesvaraya (1955), A P J Abdul Kalam (1997), C N R Rao (2013) and M S Swaminathan (2024, posthumous, for agriculture) |
| Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize | Instituted by CSIR in 1957 in memory of its first Director, for outstanding research by scientists under 45 in seven fields. It was given to over 500 scientists until its last award in 2022 |
| Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar | Created in 2023 to merge several science awards. It has four categories: Vigyan Ratna for lifetime contribution, Vigyan Shri for distinguished work, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar for scientists below 45, and Vigyan Team for groups of three or more |
| Fields | Physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and computer science, earth science, medicine, engineering, agriculture, space science and technology, technology and innovation |
| First Vigyan Ratna | Awarded in 2024 to Prof Govindarajan Padmanabhan, a biochemist, among the first set of winners |
| Padma awards | Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri recognise scientists every year |
| INSA medals | Indian National Science Academy medals and awards such as the Aryabhata and Meghnad Saha medals |
Which Other Science Honours Are Important?
- Infosys Prize: an annual prize since 2009 by the Infosys Science Foundation across six categories, including life sciences and physical sciences
- Kalinga Prize: UNESCO award for popularisation of science, funded by the Kalinga Foundation of Biju Patnaik since 1952
- Homi Bhabha awards: awards in nuclear science
- Ramanujan Prize: ICTP prize for young mathematicians from developing countries
- Indian Nobel winners: Rabindranath Tagore (Literature, 1913), C V Raman (Physics, 1930), Har Gobind Khorana (Medicine, 1968), S Chandrasekhar (Physics, 1983), Amartya Sen (Economics, 1998), Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Chemistry, 2009), Abhijit Banerjee (Economics, 2019) and others
- Fields Medal: Manjul Bhargava (2014) and others of Indian origin received top math honours
- Space awards: ISRO awards and the Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award
- Agricultural awards: Krishi Karman and the World Food Prize to M S Swaminathan in 1987
What Else Should You Remember?
- C V Raman: Raman Effect announced on 28 February 1928; Nobel 1930, first Asian in science
- S Chandrasekhar: Chandrasekhar limit for white dwarfs; Nobel 1983
- Abdul Kalam: Missile Man, the 11th President, received Bharat Ratna in 1997
- Visvesvaraya: engineer and statesman; Engineers Day on 15 September is in his honour
- M S Swaminathan: called the father of the Green Revolution in India
- CNR Rao: chemist known for solid state and materials chemistry
- Young scientist prize: awards for under-45 recognise early career achievements
- Selection: by expert committees chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser for the new puraskar
- Announcement: on National Technology Day or around National Science Day, awarded on 23 August, National Space Day
- National Space Day: observed on 23 August since 2024, to mark Chandrayaan-3 landing in 2023
- National Technology Day: 11 May, to mark Pokhran-II tests of 1998
- Science Day: 28 February
- Engineers Day: 15 September
- Women scientists: awards such as the Asima Chatterjee award honour women
- Link: institutions that give awards are in Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
- Link to policy: see S&T Policy Resolutions of 1958, 1983, 2003 and 2013
- Caution: winners and categories change every year, so for current affairs check the latest announcement
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Prizes: Bhatnagar versus Vigyan Puraskar
- Categories: Ratna, Shri, Yuva, Team
- People: Bharat Ratna scientists
- Current affairs link: new Puraskar winners and Nobel prizes
- Common errors: saying Bhatnagar Prize is still given or giving Raman’s Bharat Ratna year wrongly
As an analytical point, merging many awards into the Vigyan Puraskar aims to give more prestige and a clear structure. Public recognition, fair selection and attention to women and young researchers are needed to motivate science.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Awards Old and new
- Winners Key scientists
- Days Science days
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Department of Science and Technology. Next topic: Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Key People and Terms
- SSB Prize Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
- Vigyan Ratna Highest science honour
- INSA Indian National Science Academy
- Kalinga Prize UNESCO science popularisation prize
- Padma awards Civilian awards
- Vigyan Team Group award
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- SSB Prize started 1957.
- Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar created 2023; first winners 2024.
- Raman: Bharat Ratna 1954, Nobel 1930.
- Kalam: Bharat Ratna 1997.
- National Space Day: 23 August.
Do Not Confuse With
- Bhatnagar Prize and Vigyan Yuva Old CSIR prize versus its successor category
- Bharat Ratna and Nobel Indian honour versus international prize
- Science Day and Technology Day 28 February versus 11 May
Memory Hook
Bhatnagar bowed out in twenty-two; Vigyan Ratna, Shri, Yuva and Team came in.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for names, categories and years. These points help.
- Awards Structure
- Role Motivation
- Reform Merger
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the changes in the system of national science awards in India and how recognition can improve scientific culture.”
How to Answer
- Old awards SSB Prize.
- New system Four categories.
- Impact Motivation.
- Gaps Women, young.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar?
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is the national science award created in 2023 by the Government of India to recognise achievements in science and technology. It has four categories: Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, and Vigyan Team. The first awards were announced in 2024.
What was the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize?
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology was instituted by CSIR in 1957 in memory of its first Director, to honour scientists below 45 years in fields such as physics, chemistry and biology. It was India's leading science prize until the new Puraskar replaced it, with the last awards for 2022.
Which Indian scientists have received the Bharat Ratna?
The scientists honoured with Bharat Ratna include C V Raman in 1954, Sir M Visvesvaraya in 1955, A P J Abdul Kalam in 1997 and C N R Rao in 2013. In 2024, the agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan was honoured posthumously along with other recipients.
What is the Kalinga Prize?
The Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science is a UNESCO award, instituted in 1952 with funding from the Kalinga Foundation Trust set up by Biju Patnaik, to honour people who have made outstanding contributions to explaining science to the public.
Which Indians have won the Nobel Prize in science?
Indian born or Indian origin Nobel laureates in science include C V Raman in Physics in 1930, Har Gobind Khorana in Medicine in 1968, S Chandrasekhar in Physics in 1983 and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan in Chemistry in 2009. Only Raman won as a citizen working in India.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize was started by CSIR.
In 1957.
2 Vigyan Ratna is the lowest category of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar.
It is the highest.
3 C V Raman received the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
He won the Nobel in 1930.
4 National Space Day is observed on 23 August.
Since 2024.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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