UNESCO Kalinga Prize Money Enhances To $ 40,000

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has enhanced the prize money of UNESCO Kalinga Prize-2017 from US $ 20,000 to US $ 40,000, said an official.

It was decided at a meeting chaired by Science and Technology Minister Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi recently.

Besides, the government approved to enhance the administrative expenses from US $ 10,000 to US $ 20,000.

“The government of Odisha in Science and Technology Department gives in-principle consent to bear its share of US $ 17,000 towards the enhancement of UNESCO Kalinga Prize from present US $ 20,000 to US $ 40,000 and administrative charges from US $ 10,000 to US $ 20,000,” said a letter from Science and Technology Department.

The UNESCO Kalinga Prize was instituted by former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik in 1951 for the popularisation of science is an international distinction.

It was instituted under the banner of Kalinga Foundation Trust through UNESCO, Paris.

It is jointly financed by the Government of India, through the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Odisha State Government, and the Kalinga Foundation Trust.

Notably, Argentinian scientist Diego Andrés Golombek had received UNESCO Kalinga Prize-2015 for the popularisation of science.