The Government of India has invited nominations for the 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 Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar honours scientists, technologists, and innovators whose work has significantly advanced Indiaโs 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.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, stated that โThe Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar reflects the Governmentโs 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 Indiaโs 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.โ
The Ministry has urged academic institutions, research organizations, industry bodies, and individuals to actively participate in the nomination process to ensure widespread recognition of Indiaโs scientific talent.
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 Indiaโs scientific ecosystem.
โThe Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is not just an award, but a testament to our nationโs commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation,โ said Dr. Jitendra Singh. โAs we strive towards a โViksit Bharat,โ we must recognize the tireless efforts of our researchers and technologists who are solving global challenges through local ingenuity. These awards span 14 diverse domainsโfrom Space Science to Agricultural Scienceโensuring that every field of impactful research is celebrated.โ
The Minister further noted that these awards reflect the governmentโs commitment to recognizing โValue in Science.โ He noted that a more inclusive, transparent, and rigorous selection process, which includes self-nomination, ensures that the most deserving talent from across the country is brought to the forefront.
For further information and detailed guidelines, interested candidates are encouraged to visit the official portal or contact the RVP Award Secretariat at CSIR-HRDG, New Delhi
