The Ajith Kumar Award for Outstanding Research Paper in Ecology was established in honour of Dr. Ajith Kumar and his significant contributions to advancing ecological research in India. The award recognises an exceptional research paper in field-based ecology conducted in India. It celebrates work that demonstrates originality, scientific rigor, and meaningful engagement with Indian ecological systems—reflecting Dr. Kumar's commitment to natural history, field ecology, and high-quality ecological scholarship.

Selection Process

Eligible papers published within the previous five years were considered through a two-stage selection process. An initial review committee evaluated the nominated papers and prepared a shortlist based on their scientific quality, originality, contribution to ecological understanding, and relevance to field-based ecology in India. The shortlisted papers were then reviewed by an independent jury, which selected the finalists and the award recipient following detailed evaluation and deliberation. The jury was co-chaired by Drs. Mewa Singh and Jayashree Rathnam. The jury members included Drs. Shomita Mukherjee, Suhel Quader, and Sutirtha Dutta.

Each juror assessed the shortlisted papers based on the extent and quality of fieldwork, the significance of the natural-history or ecological insights, the advancement of ecological concepts and knowledge, and the robustness of the methods and analyses. The career stage of the lead researcher was also considered. To encourage and recognise emerging scholars, early-career researchers—including MSc students and PhD candidates—received higher scores under this criterion.