Scientists question Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar transparency after names ‘dropped’ from final list

NEW DELHI: In the wake of recent allegations surrounding the exclusion of names from the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) award list for non-scientific reasons, a group of Indian scientists have written a letter to the principal scientific adviser, Ajay Sood, seeking clarity on the selection procedures for the Vigyan Yuva Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award 2024. The scientists, all previous recipients of the SSB award, have expressed concerns over the integrity of the selection process and have called for transparency.

The RVP 2024 list was published on August 7. This year marks the inaugural edition of the restructured RVP, under which 33 scientists were recognized across four categories: Vigyan Ratna for lifetime achievement, Vigyan Shri for scientists of all ages, Vigyan Yuva for those under 45, and Vigyan Team for collaborative research. However, the exclusion of the three prominent scientists from the Vigyan Yuva category has fueled concerns about the fairness and transparency of the selection process.

RVP 2024 Award: Exclusion of three scientists

The alleged exclusion of three scientists from SSB award list - Suvrat Raju, a physicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research; Prateek Sharma, a physicist at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru; and Suman Chakraborty from IIT Kharagpur (as per Indian Express report) has raised concerns. All three were reportedly considered for the newly introduced Vigyan Yuva Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award but were eliminated in the final stage of the selection process.

Concerns over non-scientific influences

The letter, signed by scientists such as Siva Athreya, Rajesh Gopakumar, Ashoke Sen, and Vidita Vaidya, highlights media reports suggesting that non-scientific considerations may have influenced the final list of SSB awardees. Specifically, the group refers to the possibility that the recommendations of the expert committee, which plays an important role in identifying awardees, were overruled by higher authorities for reasons unrelated to scientific merit.

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The letter read, "Our queries are prompted by disquieting media reports which suggest that unfair non-scientific considerations may have influenced the final list of this year's awardees overriding the recommendations of the experts committee. “We assume that the RVPC made a recommendation for this year's awardees. We are writing to ask whether the recommendations of the RVPC were accepted in entirety, or were revised by further committees or authorities.’’

They emphasized the need for procedural transparency, requesting the government to clarify whether the recommendations of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Committee (RVPC), chaired by Sood, were altered in any way. “We very much hope that these fears are unfounded, and feel that complete and detailed procedural transparency is the best way to set all doubts to rest, and to preserve the integrity of this prestigious award,” the scientists wrote.

RVP Awards 2024: Scientists demand fairness and transparency in selection process

The scientists highlighted their own experience in serving on selection committees, stating that recommendations made by the expert committees in the past were faithfully reflected in the final list of awardees. In conclusion, the group of scientists has called for assurances that the procedures for determining the 2024 SSB awards remain fair and free from any external influences. Transparency in the selection process, they believe, is essential to uphold the integrity and legacy of the prestigious award.