CSIR-led Aroma Mission Bags ‘Vigyan Team Award’ for Purple Revolution, Dr Jitendra Hails Success Stories Of Bhaderwah, Gulamarg
New Delhi: The second “Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar” ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the prestigious “Rashtriya Vigyan Ratna Puraskar 2025” was awarded posthumously to renowned astrophysicist Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar. The CSIR-led Aroma Mission received the “Rashtriya Vigyan Team Puraskar 2025” for its significant contributions to the “Purple Revolution” and lavender entrepreneurship, which have created new livelihood opportunities in the Himalayan region.
President Droupadi Murmu presented awards to 24 scientists and innovators across various disciplines, highlighting the government’s commitment to recognizing scientific achievements through a structured awards framework. Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the Aroma Mission for its role in promoting aromatic crop cultivation, particularly lavender, which has reduced reliance on essential oil imports and positively impacted farmers’ livelihoods in Gulmarg and Bhaderwah regions in Jammu and Kashmir. The awards, instituted by the Modi government, aim to honor scientific work from lifetime achievements to early-career excellence and team-based innovations. This year’s ceremony emphasized collaborative, application-oriented science, with the Aroma Mission’s success serving as a model for translating research into practical outcomes. The Lavender cultivation initiative has expanded beyond Jammu and Kashmir to other states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. In addition to the Vigyan Ratna, several Vigyan Shri and Vigyan Yuva awards were presented, recognizing contributions across diverse fields such as physics, agriculture, biological sciences, and technology. The Vigyan Yuva awards specifically honored emerging researchers under 45, showcasing the depth of talent in India’s scientific community. Notably, women scientists were prominently recognized, reflecting their increasing participation and leadership in the field. Dr. Jitendra Singh commended all awardees for their contributions, which underscore the importance of science and technology in addressing national challenges and enhancing citizens’ quality of life. The presence of the President and the Science and Technology Minister at the ceremony reinforced the national priority placed on scientific research and innovation, while the awards framework aims to clarify categories and criteria, particularly for young scientists.
