The Ministry of Science and Technology has decided to withdraw its support for the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for Popularisation of Science, an award established in 1951 with a donation from Odisha’s former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. This decision is part of a broader initiative to streamline science awards, including the introduction of new awards like the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar. Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has protested the move, emphasizing the Kalinga Prize’s significance as a symbol of Odia pride and its role as India’s sole international award for science popularisation. The Ministry’s support for the Kalinga Prize, which includes a cash prize and associated benefits, has been ongoing since 2001. The Science Ministry’s decision follows a pattern of rationalizing science awards and does not reflect a new policy but rather an implementation of prior decisions.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has withdrawn its support for the Kalinga Prize, marking a significant shift in its endorsement of the award.
