New Delhi, June 27 (PTI): Eminent agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan has been chosen for the prestigious Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for the year 2006.

The award, instituted by the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Delhi, honours an individual who is an exceptionally outstanding business leader, management practitioner, educator or institution builder for his or her sustained contributions to the respective field.

The honour carries a cash award of Rs one lakh, a citation and a plaque.

The award is given each year on the eve of the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on October one by the President of India.

"Dr M S Swaminathan has been selected for this honour in recognition of his pioneering work in the field of agricultural research," Anil Shastri, son of the late Prime Minister and chairman of the institute, said.