Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Announcement Delayed Amid Greater Scrutiny

The announcement of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, India's foremost awards in science and technology, faces delays due to enhanced scrutiny in the selection process, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh stated on Monday.

Unveiled in 2023 and first awarded on August 22 of last year, these prestigious honors were originally set to be declared on May 11, National Technology Day, and conferred on August 23. Modeled after India's notable Padma awards, the Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, and Vigyan Team Awards have undergone a more rigorous selection process this year.

The RVP was embroiled in controversy last year when three scientists, critical of the government, were allegedly excluded from the awards. Singh emphasized the implementation of broader scrutiny and objective measures in the selection process. The awards have been categorized and rationalized, dropping more than 300 previous awards, now consisting of a medal and a citation, under the recommendation of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Committee (RVPC) to the Minister.