Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years is eligible for the prize. The prize is awarded on the basis of contributions made through work done in India only during the five years preceding the year of the prize. The prize comprises a citation, a plaque, and a cash award of ₹5 lakh (US$6,000).[4] In addition, recipients also receive ₹15,000 per month up to the age of 65 years.
Names of candidates are proposed by a member of the governing body of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Vice-Chancellors of universities or institutes of national importance, and deans of different faculties of science and former awardees. Selection is made by the Advisory Committee constituted each year and necessarily consists of at least six experts including at least one former Bhatnagar Awardee in the respective discipline. At least 2/3 agreement of the members is required for selection. If two nominees are unanimously recommended in the same field because of equal merit, both are awarded.[4]
The prize is divided into seven disciplines, namely:
Biological Sciences
Chemical Sciences
Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
Engineering Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Medical Sciences
Physical Sciences.
Each discipline can have multiple winners (maximum 2 individuals).[5] Up until 2007, the prize money was ₹2 lakh (US$2,400) and was raised to ₹5 lakh (US$6,000) in 2008.[6]
The names of the recipients are traditionally declared by the Director General on every 26 September, which is the CSIR Foundation Day.[7] The prize is distributed by the Prime Minister of India. The awardee is bound to give a lecture in the area of the award, generally outside his/her city of work.[4]
