Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025: Jayant Narlikar Gets Vigyan Ratna
Why in the news
The Government of India announced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 on 28 October 2025. Astrophysicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was named for the top honour, Vigyan Ratna, posthumously.
Key facts
- The awards span 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Environmental Science, Engineering and Space Technology.
- Vigyan Ratna: Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, posthumously, in Physics.
- Vigyan Shri: eight awardees, including those in agricultural science, chemistry, environmental science and mathematics.
- Vigyan Team: CSIR Aroma Mission team, Agricultural Science.
- Nominations were open from 4 October to 17 November 2024.
The four categories
| Category | Recognises |
|---|---|
| Vigyan Ratna | Lifetime achievement in science and technology |
| Vigyan Shri | Distinguished contributions |
| Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar | Scientists under 45 |
| Vigyan Team | Collaborative work by three or more researchers |
About the winner
Narlikar is known for the Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity, an alternative to Einstein’s general relativity that supports the steady-state model of the universe.
Exam angle
- Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is administered under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
- Link the winner to his theory: Hoyle-Narlikar.
- Know the age limit of 45 for the Yuva award.