14 February 2024 : For his substantial contributions in medical and social fields, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla was awarded the 'Late Dr. Mohan Dharia 'Rashtra Nirman Puraskar' by Sharad Pawar at a award ceremony was held at Balgandharva Auditorium, in the city. Present at the occasion were former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, MP Srinivas Patil, President of Vanarai Ravindra Dharia, President of Vanarai Foundation Dr. Girish Gandhi, Chancellor of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences. Ved Prakash Mishra, Vanrai Trustee Ganpatrao Patil, Nilesh Khandekar, Trustee Rohidas More and Secretary Amit Wadekar. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wished Cyrus Poonawalla through video conferencing.

Sharad Pawar said, "Dr. Mohan Dharia showed a different direction to the country with his politics and social causes. Mohan Dharia's ideology was nation first. Serum Institute is in a way moving on their own thinking and producing vaccines not only for the country but also for everyone in the world. Today, three out of five people in the world are receiving the vaccine developed by Serum Institute, this alone shows the global contribution of Serum Institute."

Cyrus Poonawalla said, "Dr. Mohan Dharia, when he was the vice-chairman of the country's planning commission, had contributed significantly to the progress of Serum Institute, even after that he guided the Serum Institute from time to time. My dream was not that Serum Institute should become the largest vaccine producer in the world, but today millions of children's lives are being saved today because of the vaccine developed by our organisation. It is a matter of satisfaction for us."

Prithviraj Chavan said, "Cyrus Poonawalla's contribution is like Dr. Mohan Dharia. The stature of this award has increased by giving him an award named after Mohan Dharia. Dr. Mohan Dharia created a different height in Indian politics, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla has saved not only the country but also the world from a major crisis due to his work in the medical field."

Nitin Gadkari said, "a visionary like Cyrus Poonawalla has led the country today in science, technology, and medicine. Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla has an aim to free the youth from cancer. Taken by Cyrus Poonawalla, he will surely succeed in this endeavour. Just as the political body of Mohan Dharia was constructive, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla's research and medical body are also formative. That is why both great personalities have contributed a lot in building