INDIA’S most celebrated astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar, who passed away in May, was on Saturday selected for theVigyan Ratna Puraskar. Narlikar challenged the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe was created in a single moment. He, along with British astronomer Fred Hoyle, proposed that the universe had always existed with continuous creation of new matter into infinity. Narlikar died on May 20 at the age of 86.

 

Modelled on the Padma awards, the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is the country’s top science award.

 

The winners for 2025, the second edition of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, were announced on the website of the national awards -- awards.Gov.In -- on Saturday.

 

The Government also announced eight Vigyan Shri, 14 Vigyan Yuva and one Vigyan Team awards. Noted agriculture scientist Gyanendra PratapSingh,popularly known as the wheat breeder, won the Vigyan Shri award for his contribution to thefieldofAgriculturalScience. Yusuf Mohammad Seikh, Director of the physics group oftheBhabhaAtomicResearch Centre,wontheVigyanShrifor his contribution to the field of Atomic Energy.

 

KThangaraj of the Centre for Cellular and MolecularBiologyhaswon the award in the field of Biological Sciences and Pradeep ThalappilofIIT-Madrasbagged the Vigyan Shri in the field of Chemistry.

 

Aniruddha Bhalchandra Pandit, Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology, was awarded theVigyan Shri in the field of Engineering Sciences andSVenkataMohan,Director of National Environmental EngineeringResearchInstitute,

 

won the award in the field of Environmental Science. Mahan Maharaj,amonk of the Ramakrishna Order and Professor of Mathematics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, won the Vigyan Shri in the field of Mathematics and Computer Science. Jayan N of the Liquid PropulsionSystemsCentrehas been selected for his contribution to Space Science and Technology.