SWARUP BHATNAGAR PRIZE
1. Context
There is disquiet in the scientific fraternity that for the first time since it was instituted in 1958, the country’s top annual science prize, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards, that has celebrated and nurtured the best science talent under 45, has been put on hold.
2.About Swarup bhatnagar
- Named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first director of CSIR, these awards are given every in seven scientific disciplines physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, and earth sciences.
- Each award ,there cannot be more than two per discipline carries a cash component of Rs 5 lakh and, since 2008, an honorarium of Rs 15,000 per month till the scientist is serving in a publicly funded institution
- The award has a formidable track record of identifying future science leaders: According to an article published in Current Science some time ago, of the 500 plus Bhatnagar awardees (till 2020), 16 have been honoured with Padma Vibhushan; 49 with Padma Bhushan and 69 with Padma Shri
- Seven Bhatnagar Awardees have been honoured with all three. CNR Rao is the lone Bharat Ratna.
- As many as 25 Bhatnagar awardees have become Fellow of the Riyal Society; 15 of them foreign associates of National Academy of Sciences in US, and 143 of them are fellows of The World Academy of Sciences
3. About CSIR
- The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), known for its cutting edge R&D knowledge base in diverse S&T areas, is a contemporary R&D organization.
- CSIR has a dynamic network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 1 Innovation Complexes, and three units with a pan-India presence
- CSIR covers a wide spectrum of science and technology – from oceanography, geophysics, chemicals, drugs, genomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, instrumentation, environmental engineering and information technology
- It provides significant technological intervention in many areas concerning societal efforts, which include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm sectors
- Pioneer of India’s intellectual property movement, CSIR today is strengthening its patent portfolio to carve out global niches for the country in select technology domains. CSIR filed about 229 Indian patents and 202 foreign patents during 2021-22
4. What are disciplines eligible for the Prize
The Prize is given each year for outstanding contributions to science and technology.
SSB Prizes, each of the value of Rs 5,00,000 (Rupees five lakh) are awarded annually for notable and outstanding research, fundamental or applied, in the following disciplines:
(1) Biological (2) Chemical (3)Earth-Atmosphere-Ocean-Planetary (4) Engineering (5) Mathematical (6) Medical and (7) Physical Sciences
Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years as reckoned on 31st December of the year preceding the year of the Prize
Overseas citizen of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) working in India are also eligible
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Previous Year Questions
Consider the following statements in respect of Barat Ratna and Padma Awards: (UPSC CSE, 2021)
(1) Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India. (2) Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once. (3) The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year. Which of the above statements are not correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer-b
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Source: indianexpress
