Govt invites nominations for PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026; last date July 31

New Delhi: The government has invited nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026, a national honour for children aged 5 to 18, with July 31 set as the last date for submission. In a statement, the Ministry of Women and Child Development said the award recognises exceptional achievements by children in bravery, social service, environment, sports, art & culture, and Science & Technology, and celebrates their "exceptional resilience, courage, creativity, and indomitable spirit".

The ministry said the award will be conferred by the President at a special ceremony in New Delhi on Veer Bal Diwas on December 26. "The award serves to encourage and inspire young talent by acknowledging their contributions at the national level and motivating others to strive for excellence," it said.

PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar: Awards and Eligibility

According to the statement, children nominated for the award must be Indian citizens and residents of India, between five and 18 years of age as on July 31, 2026, and should not be previous recipients of the award in any category. The act, incident or achievement must have occurred within two years of the nomination deadline of July 31, 2026, it added.

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The award comprises a medal, a certificate and a citation and is a tribute to the "resilience, courage, creativity, and indomitable spirit of India's young changemakers", the ministry said. Around 25 awards are conferred for exceptional bravery and excellence in the six fields. Since its inception in 2019, 203 children have received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, according to the statement.

The ministry said nominations can be made by any individual or institution, while children may also apply through self-nomination. Recommendations are also invited from central ministers, chief ministers, governors, lieutenant governors, MPs, ministries, state and UT governments, district magistrates and educational institutions.

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Applicants have been asked to submit their entries on awards.gov.in along with personal details, award category, recent photograph, supporting documents, and a brief description of the achievement and its outcome in not more than 1,000 words. Calling the award "more than a medal and a citation", the ministry said it was the nation's way of telling young citizens that "their courage, creativity, and compassion matter".