IIA Director Wins COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal

Astrophysicist Annapurni Subramaniam received the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026 on 3 August 2026. She is the Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru, India. The medal was presented during the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Florence, Italy.

COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal

The COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal is a joint award of the Committee on Space Research and the Indian Space Research Organisation. It recognises scientists from developing countries for outstanding contributions to space research. The medal was instituted in 1990 and carries the name of Vikram Sarabhai, who is known as the founder of India’s space programme.

Recipient and Research Areas

Annapurni Subramaniam is the first Indian woman scientist and the fourth Indian overall to receive this honour. Her research areas include stellar populations, blue straggler stars, future telescopes, the Ultra-violet Imaging Telescope onboard AstroSat, and the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve.

Previous Indian Recipients

Earlier Indian recipients of the medal include U.R. Rao in 1996, Gurbax Singh Lakhina in 2014, and Anil Bharadwaj in 2024. The award is linked with COSPAR, which is the Committee on Space Research, an international scientific body for space research.

Important Facts for Exams

• COSPAR stands for the Committee on Space Research.
• ISRO is the Indian Space Research Organisation.
• AstroSat is India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory.
• Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is located in Ladakh and is known for astronomical observations.