Haryana govt announces Vigyan Ratna Awards for scientists

The Directorate of Science and Technology, Government of Haryana, has finalised the Haryana Vigyan Ratna and Yuva Vigyan Ratna Awards for the calendar years 2022, 2023, and 2024. These awards recognise scientists with outstanding contributions to science and technology who have either studied or worked in Haryana for at least 10 years and hold a valid Haryana Resident Certificate.

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Each year, a maximum of two scientists are selected for the Vigyan Ratna Award (for those above 40 years) and two for the Yuva Vigyan Ratna Award (for scientists below 40 years). The Vigyan Ratna carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, while the Yuva award carries Rs 1 lakh.

Rajiv Rattan, Director General of the S&T Directorate, said the awardees were chosen based on recommendations of a selection committee chaired by the Chief Secretary of Haryana and including Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardees as external experts. The committee met on April 4, 2025.

“For 2022, Dr Arvind Kumar (CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar) and Dr Raj Kumar (Central University of Punjab, Bathinda) have been named Vigyan Ratna Awardees. The Yuva Vigyan Ratna Awards go to Dr Vineet Vashista (IIT Gandhinagar) and Dr Vikas (Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun),” said Rattan.

In 2023, the Vigyan Ratna was conferred upon Dr Sudesh Kaur Khanduja (INSA honorary Scientist, IISER Mohali). The Yuva awards went to Dr Paramvir Singh (NIT Agartala) and Dr Chirag Jain (IISc, Bangalore).

For 2024, Dr Deepak Thankappan Nair (RCB, Faridabad) and Dr Anirban Basu (NBRC, Manesar) were awarded Vigyan Ratna, while Dr Jogender Singh (IISER Mohali) and Dr Swati Singh (LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad) were named Yuva Vigyan Ratna awardees.