Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 28: The Government of India has invited nominations for the prestigious Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2026, a prestigious national initiative to recognize outstanding contributions in the fields of Science, Technology, and Innovation. The awards are administered by the RVP Secretariat, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Ministry of Science & Technology, under the chairmanship of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the GOI.
The official announcement was made here today by Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh.
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar honours scientists, technologists, and innovators whose work has significantly advanced India’s scientific landscape and contributed to national development. Nominations, including self-nominations, are open across a wide range of domains, including Agricultural Science, Atomic Energy, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Defence Technology, Earth Science, Engineering Sciences, Environmental Science, Mathematics & Computer Science, Medicine, Physics, Space Science and Technology, Technology & Innovation and Others.
The RVP-2026 awards will be presented in four distinct categories: Vigyan Ratna (VR): Recognizing lifetime achievements in science and technology; Vigyan Shri (VS): Acknowledging distinguished contributions to the field; Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB): Encouraging young scientists (up to 45 years of age) who have shown exceptional promise; Vigyan Team (VT): Awarded to teams of three or more researchers for collaborative excellence.
Nominations, including self-nominations, are open online via the Ministry of Home Affairs Awards Portal (https://awards.gov.in) from 28 March 2026 to 11 May 2026.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, stated that “The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to fostering excellence in science, technology, and innovation. These awards celebrate the spirit of inquiry and dedication of our scientists and innovators who are driving India’s transformation into a global knowledge leader. I encourage institutions, peers, and individuals to actively participate in nominating deserving candidates whose work inspires the nation and contributes to societal progress.”
Speaking on the launch, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, emphasized the importance of these awards in fuelling India’s scientific ecosystem.
“The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is not just an award, but a testament to our nation’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation,” said Dr. Jitendra Singh. “As we strive towards a ‘Viksit Bharat,’ we must recognize the tireless efforts of our researchers and technologists who are solving global challenges through local ingenuity. These awards span 14 diverse domains-from Space Science to Agricultural Science-ensuring that every field of impactful research is celebrated.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel
