Dr Akanksha Singh, bagged three prestigious honours. The Scientist-D at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP) was selected for the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) Young Scientist Award 2026 in Agricultural and Plant Sciences. The recognition completes a rare hat-trick for Dr Singh, who has earned three major national distinctions in the same year.
Three National Recognitions in One Year
Dr Singh earlier achieved two other significant milestones in 2026. She was inducted as a member of the Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS) and selected as an Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Young Associate. With these three recognitions, Dr Singh has become one of the few young Indian researchers to receive all three honours in a single year. According to CSIR-CIMAP, the achievements recognise her growing contribution to agricultural science, crop protection and sustainable agriculture.
Research Focused on Sustainable Crop Protection
Dr Singh holds a PhD in Botany and currently serves as Scientist-D in the Division of Crop Protection and Production at CSIR-CIMAP. Her research extends beyond conventional approaches to crop protection. She focuses on several areas, including plant-microbe interactions, biological crop protection, fungal diseases in crops, eco-friendly disease management, fungicide development and sustainable agriculture. In particular, her work examines how beneficial microorganisms can naturally protect crops against harmful fungal diseases. This approach could help reduce dependence on chemical pesticides while supporting crop health and productivity.
Promoting Eco-Friendly Agriculture
By developing biological and environmentally friendly approaches to disease management, Dr Singh’s research aims to make crop production more sustainable. Her work could help farmers manage crop diseases while reducing the environmental impact associated with excessive chemical pesticide use. Moreover, stronger plant health and improved disease management can contribute to more reliable agricultural productivity. Such research is particularly relevant to India, where agriculture supports millions of livelihoods and continues to face challenges related to crop diseases, productivity and environmental sustainability.
NASI Young Scientist Award 2026
Dr Singh is among 16 scientists selected for the NASI Young Scientist Award 2026 across multiple scientific disciplines. Established in 1930, the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) is one of the country’s oldest scientific academies. Its Young Scientist Award recognises early-career researchers who demonstrate outstanding scientific contributions and encourages them to pursue impactful research. Dr Singh will receive the award during the 96th Annual Session and Symposium of NASI, scheduled for December 4–5, 2026, at Banaras Hindu University.
Spotlight on India’s Emerging Scientific Talent
The recognition adds another milestone to Dr Singh’s growing scientific career and highlights the increasing contribution of young Indian researchers to agricultural innovation. Her work at CSIR-CIMAP demonstrates how plant science, microbiology and sustainable crop protection can come together to address practical agricultural challenges. As reported by indiatoday.in, Dr Singh’s three national recognitions in 2026 not only celebrate her individual achievements but also highlight a new generation of Indian scientists working to develop sustainable solutions for crop diseases, food production and agricultural resilience.
