Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025

♦ President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 on 24 eminent scientists and innovators at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 23. The prestigious Rashtriya Vigyan Ratna Puraskar for lifetime achievement was awarded posthumously to renowned astrophysicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, honouring his seminal work in cosmology and science communication. 

♦ One of the highlights of the ceremony was the conferment of the Rashtriya Vigyan Team Puraskar 2025 on the CSIR-Aroma Mission, the science-led initiative credited with powering India’s widely discussed Purple Revolution through lavender-based agri-entrepreneurship.

♦ The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, instituted by the government as part of a restructured national science awards framework, aims to acknowledge excellence across the full spectrum of scientific work—ranging from lifetime achievement and distinguished contributions to young scientist recognition and team-based innovation. This year’s ceremony marked the second edition of the awards.

♦ Under the Vigyan Shri category, which recognises distinguished contributions in specific disciplines, awards were conferred on leading scientists from fields including agriculture, atomic energy, biological sciences, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, space science, and technology.

♦ The Vigyan Yuva–Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, meant for scientists below the age of 45, recognised emerging researchers for innovative work across physics, agriculture, biological sciences, chemistry, earth science, engineering, medicine, space science, and technology.

Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia

♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour, the ‘Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia’ on 16 December 2025, during his first bilateral visit to the country.

♦ The award was presented at a special ceremony held at the Addis International Convention Centre by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in recognition of Modi’s exceptional contribution to strengthening India-Ethiopia ties and his leadership as a global statesman.

♦ The ceremony underscored the growing strategic and cultural ties between the two nations, with PM Modi reaffirming India’s commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s development initiatives. 

National Energy Conservation Awards 2025

♦ President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Energy Conservation Awards 2025 and prizes of the National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation in New Delhi on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day on 14 December 2025. 

♦ For the Best Performing state award in energy efficiency, Karnataka was awarded the first prize in Group 1. Andhra Pradesh bagged the first prize in group 2, whereas Kerala was chosen the winner in group 3. For group 4, Assam secured the first position, and Chandigarh won the first position in group 5.

♦ In the National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation 2025, Anuj Prince from Ambala bagged the first prize in the Group A category, while Soumya Jeet Malik from Odisha emerged as the winner in the Group B category.

♦ The President said that avoiding unnecessary use of electrical appliances, adopting energy-efficient devices, using natural light and ventilation, and embracing solar and other renewable energy sources help reduce carbon emissions while contributing to clean air, safe water and a balanced ecosystem. 

♦ Emphasising the role of youth, President Murmu said that awareness and active participation of children and young people are essential to achieving energy conservation goals and ensuring sustainable development of the country.

♦ Referring to India’s progress, she said that energy efficiency efforts in 2023–24 resulted in savings of 53.60 million tonnes of oil equivalent, leading to significant economic benefits and substantial reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

Supriya Sahu

♦ Supriya Sahu has won the UN Environment Programme’s 2025 Champions of the Earth award. She is one of the climate forerunner tackling some of the most urgent challenges. She is the Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests of Tamil Nadu. 

♦ According to UNEP, Sahu has been chosen for her inspiration and action. She took various initiatives to showcase how integrated governance and nature-based solutions, along with a mix of low and high-tech interventions, can protect vulnerable communities while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

National Handicrafts Awards for the years 2023 and 2024

♦ President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Handicrafts Awards for the years 2023 and 2024 at an event held in New Delhi on 9 December 2025. A total of 48 awards were presented, including - 12 Shilp Guru awards and 36 National awards, including 2 Design & Innovation Awards (artisan–designer collaboration). Among the awardees, 20 are women artisans.

♦ Emphasising the socio-economic importance of the handicraft sector, the President said that it employs more than 3.2 million people, most of whom live in rural and remote areas.

♦ The President underlined that handicrafts are closely linked to social empowerment. The sector has traditionally supported weaker sections and has played a major role in women’s empowerment — with women forming 68% of its workforce. 

♦ Ministry of Textiles said that the awards recognise. unparalleled artistic excellence and reaffirm the Government’s commitment to preserving and promoting the country’s rich and diverse handicraft heritage. It is a part of the National Handicrafts Week celebrations. National Handicrafts Week is celebrated annually from the 8th of December, as a tribute to India’s artisans and celebrates the enduring cultural significance of handicrafts.