The Indian government has unveiled the recipients of the 2024 Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) awards, recognizing 24 individual scientists and one team for their significant scientific contributions. This marks the second edition of the awards, which are organized by the Centre to honor achievements in the field of science.
Similar to the previous year, the awards are categorized into four main groups: the Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award, and the Vigyan team award. The Vigyan Ratna is awarded to scientists with a lifetime of distinguished contributions, while the Vigyan Shri recognizes recent exceptional contributions. The Yuva award is designated for scientists under the age of 45, and the team award honors collaborative efforts in technology development.
This year, the total number of awards is fewer than the 33 given in 2023, despite a theoretical cap of 56 across all categories. The announcement was notably delayed by several months, potentially indicating a more rigorous evaluation process for candidates. Unlike previous national science awards, such as the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awards, the RVP does not include a cash prize, aligning it more closely with the prestigious Padma awards.
However, increased scrutiny has its downsides. In the past, instances were reported where certain scientists were informed of their award status, only to later find their nominations rescinded. This prompted a group of leading scientists from across India to reach out to the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, urging for transparency in the selection process. Concerns were raised that factors beyond scientific merit, such as dissent against government policies or political beliefs, might influence award decisions.
The Principal Scientific Adviser has not directly addressed these issues but noted that the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Committee, which includes the PSA and secretaries from various ministries along with representatives from scientific academies, “recommended” candidates to the Minister of Science and Technology. It remains unclear whether the Minister has the authority to reject committee recommendations.
The establishment of the RVP awards arose from discussions between the Ministry of Home Affairs and heads of scientific departments in 2022, who concluded that the proliferation of awards from multiple scientific departments warranted a more streamlined approach to elevate their significance. While consultations with the Science Minister have historically influenced awards like the SSB, the consolidation and intended elevation of the RVP awards create an impression of increased politicization.
For the RVP to achieve its goal of enhancing the prestige of scientific recognition in India, it is imperative that the government adopts a more hands-off approach, allowing scientists to evaluate the excellence of their peers without external influences.
