The Government of India announced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 on October 26, 2025. The award recognises outstanding and inspiring contributions by scientists, technologists and innovators in science, technology and technology-led innovation. For exam preparation, the issue connects awards and honours with India’s science policy, research ecosystem and the role of science in national development.
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is conferred under four categories. Vigyan Ratna recognises lifetime achievements and contributions in any field of science and technology. Vigyan Shri recognises distinguished contributions. Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar encourages young scientists up to the age of 45 years. Vigyan Team is given to a team of three or more scientists, researchers or innovators. In 2025, the Vigyan Ratna was awarded posthumously to Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar for his contributions to physics. Eight scientists were selected for Vigyan Shri, 14 names were announced under Vigyan Yuva, and Team-Aroma Mission CSIR was selected for Vigyan Team. This makes 23 individual awards and 1 team award.
The awards are conferred across 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Technology and Innovation, Atomic Energy, Space Science and Technology, and other allied fields. Nominations for 2025 were invited through a dedicated portal between October 4 and November 17, 2024, and scrutinised by a panel including senior scientific officials, science department secretaries, academy heads and domain experts. In prelims, categories, numbers, age limit and the main awardee are likely facts. In mains, the award can be used as an example of strengthening the research ecosystem, innovation and recognition of scientific achievement.