The Centre recently announced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) — its Padma-style national awards for scientific achievement — with 24 individual awards and one team award.

About rashtriya vigyan puraskar
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) is a prestigious national award presented by the Government of India to recognize exceptional contributions in science, technology, and innovation. Instituted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the awards are inspired by the Padma awards to honor and motivate the nation's visionaries in science and technology. 

Objectives

• To acknowledge and inspire remarkable contributions made by scientists, technologists, and innovators, whether individually or in teams.
• To strengthen India's research ecosystem and accelerate the nation's journey as a global leader in science and technology innovation. 

Award categories
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar are conferred in four categories: Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva–Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, and Vigyan Team.
The awards recognize exceptional and inspiring contributions in science, technology, and innovation. 
The four categories are: 

• Vigyan Ratna (VR): For lifetime achievements in science and technology (maximum 3 annually).
• Vigyan Shri (VS): For distinguished contributions in science and technology (maximum 25 annually).
• Vigyan Yuva–Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB): For exceptional contributions by young scientists (up to 45 years of age) (maximum 25 annually).
• Vigyan Team (VT): For exceptional contributions by a team of three or more individuals (maximum 3 annually). 

Modeled after the Padma Awards, the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar cover 13 broad scientific domains including Physics, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, and Space Science.

Eligible fields

• The awards cover 13 fields of science and technology, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Medical Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Atomic Energy, Space Science, and Technology-led Innovation. 

Eligibility criteria

• Eligible recipients include scientists, technologists, and innovators in Indian government or private organizations, individuals making significant contributions outside formal organizations, and people of Indian origin abroad whose work benefits Indian communities or society. 

Nomination and selection

• Nominations are accepted annually online through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal, allowing for both self-nomination and nominations from others. The Minister of Science and Technology makes the final selection. 

Awards ceremony
The award ceremony is announced separately, and recipients are notified. In line with the Padma awards, the RVP does not include a cash prize. 

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