FILE: Engineers at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Reuters photo)
Indian space agency ISRO will be conferred the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 in recognition of its contribution in strengthening international cooperation in peaceful use of outer space.
The award jury, chaired by Vice President Hamid Ansari, made the announcement today.
"The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is awarded to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in recognition of its path-breaking achievement, culminating in the Mars orbiter mission, its significant contribution in strengthening international cooperation in peaceful use of outer space," a statement said.
The jury also noted the pioneering role played by the space agency in the application of advanced technologies in promoting broad-based and sustainable social and economic development and addressing basic needs of the people particularly in remote and rural areas of the country.
ISRO has shown how Indian scientists and talents can be harnessed to international level, catching up with more advanced nations in a highly technical and sophisticated field, it said.
"It has shown how true self-reliance is, often working in adverse circumstances when it was denied adequate access to the latest research and development elsewhere," the statement added.
ISRO has demonstrated that in space technology, India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the world, it said.