New Delhi, Mar 02: Indian physicist P G S Mony was today awarded one of France's most prestigious awards, the `Chevalier de l'Ordre national de la Legion d'Honneur', for his contribution in promoting cooperation between the two countries in the area of science and technology. Mony, Director of the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research, supported by both the governments, is the first Indian to get this French honour in the category of science.

The Centre is a joint organisation with equal participation between the two countries which takes up research projects involving the two sides in various areas of science.

"The creation of such a Centre to support collaborative research in science and technology was without precedence in the history of bilateral cooperation in S and T between any countries of the world," French Ambassador H E Dominique Girard said honouring Mony.

Mony, a graduate from University of Kerala, did his M Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai. He worked as an engineer in the field of atomic energy for 31 years. He was also involved in setting up of country's Tarapur nuclear plant.