National recognition for PAU VC

Ludhiana, March 24, 2015: Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has been felicitated by the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi on March 5,  for receiving the “Dr B.P Pal Memorial Award” of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS). Dr Dhillon was conferred with Dr B.P Pal Memorial Award by His Excellency, the Governor of Haryana & Punjab states, Professor Kaptan Singh Solanki during 12th Indian Science Congress held at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal on February 3-6, 2015. This is the highest award of NAAS and carries a gold medal, citation and cash prize of Rs.2 lakh. By bagging this award, Dr Dhillon has joined the galaxy of eminent agricultural scientists such as Dr M.S. Swaminathan, Dr Verghese Kurien, Dr G.S. Khush, Dr R.S. Paroda, Dr S. Ayyappan, Dr E.A. Siddiq and few others.

A well-known scientist in the field of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Dr Dhillon is highly decorated and has a brilliant academic record. He is recognised for making scientific breakthroughs in maize breeding. He has served in India and abroad in various capacities such as Director, NBPGR; Assistant Director General (Food Crops), ICAR; Director of Research at PAU, Ludhiana and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar; and Associate Scientist at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico.

Dr Dhillon is a Fellow of many societies/academies including Indian National Science Academy (FNA), National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS) and National Academy of Sciences, India (FNASc). Besides, he has received German Academic Exchange (DAAD) Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship and Alexander von Humboldt Europe Fellowship.

Dr Dhillon is also recipient of several other prestigious awards and honours such as Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Memorial Prize, Om Parkash Bhasin Award for Science and Technology, JC Bose National Fellowship, NAAS Recognition Award, Dr Joginder Singh Memorial Award, Dr Harbhajan Singh Memorial Award, ICAR Gold Medal and many others.