An Indian Ph.D. Scholar, Mr. Ravi Prakash, has been awarded a cash prize of US$ 25,000 at the BRICS - Young Innovator Prize. The prize had been awarded to Prakash for his invention of an economical and indigenous milk chilling unit for marginal and smaller dairy farmers in rural areas.
The Ph.D. scholar, Ravi Prakash, from ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Bangalore, was one of the members of the 21-member delegation which had been sent by the Department of Science and Technology to the 4th edition of the BRICS-Young Scientist Forum (FSF) 2019, held in Brazil.
In a tweet posted by, Raveesh Kumar, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, stated that India won the first prize in the BRICS-Young Scientist Forum’s conclave, held during 6th November to 8th November 2019, in Brazil. He added that Ravi Prakash had been awarded a cash prize for his efforts in inventing the affordable and indigenous milk chilling unit, meant for the marginal dairy farmers in rural India. The Department of Science and Technology also posted a Facebook post announcing the proud win by Mr. Ravi Kumar and his cash prize of US$ 25,000.
The Facebook post also stated that Ravi Prakash, a resident of Bihar, had been awarded the prize for his affordable and indigenous milk chilling unit. It added that the milk chilling unit had been built with the objective of cooling milk, right after its production. The technology uses nano-fluid based phase change materials which can cool the temperature of raw milk down from 37c to 7c in a matter of half an hour.
The Facebook post added that the innovation will add to the socio-economic stance of the developing countries, by ensuring that the quality of milk, as well as its safety, remains pure right after its production.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed enhancing the engagement of the youth in socio-economic solutions during the 6th BRICS Summit, which had been held in Fortaleza in July 2014. He also requested that an inventive system be created which will facilitate networking and connection between the BRICS Youth.
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Soon afterwarda, in March 2015, during the 2nd BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting had taken place, the proposal made by India had received unanimous approval, which was further endorsed by the BRICS STI Ministers.