Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 11 Sep: Uttarakhand’s Dr Anil Prakash Joshi has been selected this year as a Distinguished Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA). The honour will take effect from 1 January 2026.
For over four decades, Dr Joshi has been actively engaged in rural development, ecological conservation, water management, renewable energy, and community-based science. He is popularly known as the “Mountain Man” and an Ashoka Fellow. The Government of India has also conferred upon him the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards.
INSA, established in 1935 and recognised by the Government of India in 1968, plays a vital role in advising on national scientific matters. Each year, INSA confers the title of Distinguished Fellow upon eminent individuals for their outstanding contributions.
Alongside Dr Joshi, this year’s honorees include Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries; Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group; Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons; Prof Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology; Prof Ajay Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy; and Nadir Godrej, Managing Director of Godrej Industries, among others.
Before this, the honour has also been conferred on Narayan Murthy, Pawan Goenka of Mahendra and Mahendra, and Somnath Sreedhar of ISRO.
Dr Joshi has been recognised specifically for his outstanding contributions to environmental sustainability in India.
The INSA Fellowship is considered one of the highest honours in the field of science and technology in India. It not only acknowledges an individual’s achievements but also celebrates their contribution to the nation’s scientific and industrial progress.
