Prof. Dr. Mahendra Pal is a globally renowned veterinarian and scientist with over 50 years of experience in research, teaching, disease investigation, and administration in Veterinary Science. He earned:

• BVSc & AH (1969) – ICAR Merit Scholarship recipient

• MVPH (1975) – First position at the All-India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta; ICAR Junior Fellowship recipient

• Ph.D. (1981) – Awarded Jawaharlal Nehru Award (1982) by ICAR for outstanding research

• D.Sc. (1988)

Prof. Pal has served in prominent veterinary and medical institutions in India (NDDB, Anand; AIIMS, New Delhi; University of Delhi) and abroad (Massey University, New Zealand; Tokyo University, Japan; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium; Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia).

Research Contributions & Innovations

• Published over 750 research papers, authored 9 books, and contributed 16 book chapters.

• Developed key microbiological techniques such as:

  • Sunflower Seed Agar (Pal Medium, 1980)

  • Modified Sunflower Seed Medium (1986)

  • PHOL Stain (1990)

  • Narayan Stain (1998)

  • APRM Agar (2015)

• Elucidated, for the first time globally, the role of several pathogens in diseases of humans and animals, including Cryptococcus neoformans, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida tropicalis, and Trichophyton verrucosum.

• First to establish the prevalence of Cryptococcus neoformans in the environment of New Zealand, Nepal, and Djibouti and to report several first isolations from clinical samples in animals.

Academic Mentorship & Teaching

• Guided over 67 students at DVM, MSc, MVSc, and Ph.D. levels in India and Ethiopia.

• Initiated Ph.D. programs in Veterinary Public Health at Veterinary College, Anand, and Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

• Delivered numerous lectures on Zoonoses and Medical Mycology internationally.

Awards & Recognition

• Padma Shri Award in Science (2023) – One of the highest civilian honors conferred by the Government of India.
  

• Jawaharlal Nehru Award (1982, ICAR)

• Luis Pasteur Award of Excellence

• International Life Achievement Award

• Distinguished Teacher Award

• Honored as Fellow of National Academy of Veterinary Sciences, India, and Korean Society of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, South Korea

• Lifetime Achievement Award by Indian Association of Veterinary Public Health (2014)

• An award instituted in his name: “Prof. Mahendra Pal Zoonoses Award” for excellence in Zoonoses research

• Biography featured in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in Science.

Editorial & Advisory Contributions

• Honorary Editor, Associate Editor, and Board Member of over 200 scientific journals

• Member of the Infectious Diseases Working Group, EAZWA, Switzerland

• JSPS Visiting Scientist at University of Tokyo, Japan

Social Contributions & Mentorship

• Founder of Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology (2015) – providing free technical expertise to scientists from low-resource countries.

• Actively engaged in social and charitable work since 1970.

• Known for his humility, dedication, and integrity in both professional and personal life.

Eligibility for Distinguished Scientist Award

Prof. Dr. Mahendra Pal’s decades-long pioneering contributions to veterinary public health, medical mycology, and zoonotic disease research, combined with his global collaborations, mentorship, and development of innovative techniques, make him highly deserving of the Distinguished Scientist Award. His work has been cited internationally, and he has shaped the careers of numerous scientists worldwide, reflecting both his scientific excellence and enduring impact.