Hari Om Ashram Prerit Doctor Vikram Sarabhai Research Award

What is the Hari Om Ashram Prerit Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research Award?

The Hari Om Ashram Prerit Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research Award is a national research honour administered by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, a unit of the Department of Space within the science ecosystem under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It was established from funds provided by Pujya Shri Mota of Hari Om Ashram, Nadiad, in memory of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of PRL and a pioneer of the Indian space programme.

According to the PRL portal, the award recognises outstanding Indian scientists below 45 years of age for distinguished research in a set of designated fields. It carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a medal, and is conferred in alternate years, that is, once every two years. It is a recognition of achievement, not a grant, fellowship or scholarship, and it is made only on nomination.

Key features

• Rs 50,000 cash award plus a medal.
• For Indian scientists below 45 years of age.
• Given in alternate years.
• Made by nomination only; no self-application.

Who is eligible for the award?

A scientist can be considered if:

• They are an Indian scientist.
• They are below 45 years of age as on the cut-off date of the cycle. In the 2017 cycle, for example, the eligibility was set at scientists born on or after 2 January 1972, that is below 45 years as on 1 January 2017.
• Their research falls in one of the award's four disciplines:

1. Space Sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, planetary and atmospheric sciences.
2. Space Applications: meteorology, hydrology, remote sensing and ground truths.
3. Electronics, Informatics, Telematics and Automation.
4. Systems Analysis or Management, including non-linear and non-equilibrium systems.

A scientist cannot apply directly. This is the single most important point: the award is not something an individual applies for. Nominations may be sent by the Heads of academic and research institutions, Vice-Chancellors and Fellows of the Indian science academies. A scientist who does not receive such a nomination, who is 45 or older on the cut-off date, or whose work lies outside the four disciplines, is not eligible.

What does the award provide?

The award provides a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a medal. It is conferred in alternate years. Because it is instituted from an endowment and administered by PRL, the amount is fixed by the award's terms rather than adjusted annually; the figure of Rs 50,000 is the amount recorded on the PRL award page. Beyond the money, the recognition itself — a national award named for Dr Vikram Sarabhai, is a significant career distinction for an early-to-mid-career researcher.

What documents are required?

Because the award works by nomination, the paperwork is prepared and submitted by the nominator, not the scientist.

How to apply for the award (the nomination route)

There is no individual application. The award reaches a scientist through a nomination made by an authorised person or institution.

1. Watch for the call for nominations on the awards page at prl.res.in when a cycle opens (the award runs in alternate years).
2. Have an authorised nominator prepare the nomination. The Head of an academic or research institution, a Vice-Chancellor, or a Fellow of one of the Indian science academies.
3. Compile the supporting material, the prescribed nomination form, the nominee's list of publications, reprints of key papers, proof of age and a biodata.
4. Submit the nomination to PRL in the prescribed format by the deadline in the call.
5. Await the selection, which is made by a committee at PRL; the winner is announced and presented the Rs 50,000 award and medal.

Help and where to check

• PRL, Ahmedabad: the laboratory's board line is 079-26314000; the awards cell listed on the "Awards administered by PRL" page handles nomination queries.
• Since this award is given only every two years and the eligibility cut-off date and exact terms are set afresh each cycle, confirm the current call on the official PRL award page before preparing a nomination. If you are a scientist who believes you qualify, the practical step is to bring your work to the attention of an institution head or academy Fellow who can nominate you. You cannot nominate yourself.