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Professor C N R Rao, who was conferred with the Bharat Ratna on Tuesday, said while India is doing reasonably well in the field of science, other countries are doing better.
He also said that it was a good sign that 14 scientists have found their names in the recent list of Padma awardees.
Rao told reporters after the award ceremony, "It is fantastic. It is more important than anything. Nothing compared to India honouring me."
The top scientist said while he has received several prestigious wards from the world over, there was nothing like being honoured by one's own nation.
He hoped that he would able to accomplish "something important" in the coming days. "I am already nearing 80. But I hope to accomplish something important," he said.
To a question on the state of science in the country, he said, "We are doing reasonably well. But other countries are doing better. South Korea and China are spending more on research," he said.
An outspoken scientist, Rao is a well-recognised international authority on solid state and materials chemistry, who has published over 1,400 research papers and 45 books.
Rao is the third scientist after C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul Kalam to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna.
Image: Prof CNR Rao receives the Bharat Ratna from President Pranab Mukherjee