C.N.R. Rao, the Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore, received India’s Bharat Ratna Award. This is India’s highest civilian honor given for exceptional service toward advancement of art, literature, and science, and in recognition of public service of the highest order. Rao received the award from President of India Pranab Mukherjee on February 4, 2014, in New-Delhi. Rao’s research focused on solid-state and materials chemistry and on structural chemistry. He is the founder and president of the Materials Research Society of India. His service to his profession includes chair of the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, and president of the Indian Academy of Sciences and of the Indian Science Congress.
