'Father of Economic Ecology': All you need to know about Bharat Ratna recipient MS Swaminathan
MS Swaminathan
Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan aka MS Swaminathan has been announced as one of the recipients of the esteemed Bharat Ratna award. The eminent agronomist and agricultural scientist will be conferred with the prestigious award for his contributions to Indian agriculture and farmer's welfare.
Announcing the award, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X said: "It is a matter of immense joy that the Government of India is conferring the Bharat Ratna on Dr MS Swaminathan Ji, in recognition of his monumental contributions to our nation in agriculture and farmers’ welfare. He played a pivotal role in helping India achieve self-reliance in agriculture during challenging times and made outstanding efforts towards modernizing Indian agriculture."
"We also recognise his invaluable work as an innovator and mentor and encouraging learning and research among several students. Dr. Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but also ensured the nation’s food security and prosperity. He was someone I knew closely and l always valued his insights and inputs," he further wrote.
Who is MS Swaminathan?
Swaminathan was an Indian agronomist, agricultural scientist, plant geneticist, administrator, and humanitarian.
)
Maha CM Wife Amruta Fadnavis' Yoga Day appearance sparks social media debate over attire | Watch
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026 awards race: Who are Golden Boot, Golden Ball and Golden Glove contenders ahead of the final
)
Salman Khan breaks silence on health concerns after viral Mumbai appearance
)
Argentina's racism problem: How football chants reflect a deeper historical legacy
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22’s cockpit glass is thicker than a standard fighter jet
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026: 5 football stars who went viral on social media during the tournament
)
Karoline Leavitt to be US Vice President when Usha Vance gives birth? JD Vance says...
)
FACT CHECK: Was Abhijit Dipke detained during CJP's Parliament march? Here's what police say
)
'Could be bombed at any moment': What Iran's Araghchi told Trump envoy Witkoff during negotiations
)
'There is no need for...': PM Modi takes a veiled dig at Rahul Gandhi, sends big message amid Parliament March
)
Japan is selling a refrigerator to cool the human body for Rs 9 lakh. It is already a hit in Tokyo
)
JD and Usha Vance welcome fourth child: Who serves as acting US vice president during Vance's paternity leave?
)
'Chalo Sansad' march today: Section 163 in force, Delhi Police remove barricades; unfazed Dharmendra Pradhan meets NEET topper
)
Xi Jinping's new AI bloc: China launches 'World AI Body' with Pakistan and Russia in, India out
)
Student union leaders call off hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after civil society appeal, but protest continues
)
Older than Himalayas: 85mn-year-old Kewra plant reached India 24mn years ago, fossil discovery in Assam shows
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (July 20-26, 2026): Musafir Cafe, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, 72 Hours- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Tulsi Gabbard's brother Batarti accused of luring children to hotel room in Hawaii
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
'What is wrong...': Anna Hazare breaks silence on Sonam Wangchuk's protest, makes an appeal to Centre
)
US strikes Iran, sirens heard in Kuwait, one American soldier killed in Iraq: What's happening in West Asia
)
Imran Khan's sister links India-Pakistan 2025 conflict to Israel recognition plans
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Global air power ranking 2026: India surpasses China
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
2026 FIFA World Cup awards: Full list of Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Golden Glove and every major winner
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22’s tail fins are canted to minimize its radar footprint
)
Sonam Wangchuk's connection with George Soros and Ford Foundation explained!
)
Indus treaty can no longer function in its current form, says India; plans 5,500 mw of new J&K hydro projects
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the S-400 uses solid rocket fuel instead of liquid fuel
)
Heavy sanctions loom over Argentine players after ugly brawl following final whistle in World Cup final
He is known as the main architect of India's green revolution, due to his leadership and role in introducing and further developing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice.
A Saviour
Swaminathan is known for his efforts that saved India and Pakistan from certain famine-like conditionsin the 1960s. He did this in collaboration with Norman Borlaug, an economic agronomist.
Swaminathan was called as the "Father of Economic Ecology" by the United Nations Environment Programme andworked as the director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines.
Awards and honours
Swaminathan who is due to be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumous, has been the recipient of numerous awards and honours.
He was the president of the Pugwash Conferences and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In 1999, he was one of thethree Indians, along with Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, to be featured on Time's list of the 20 most influential Asian people of the 20th century.He was awarded the first World Food Prize, the highest honour in the field of agriculture, in 1987.
His honours include the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the Albert Einstein World Science Award.Swaminathan passed away last year in September at the ageof 98.
(With inputs from agencies)
