**Executive Summary**
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) is India’s premier national award recognizing exceptional children aged 5 to 18 across six categories. Conferred annually by the President of India on Veer Bal Diwas (December 26th), the award honors resilience, courage, and excellence. The nomination deadline for the 2026 awards is July 31, 2026, with applications to be submitted via the official government portal.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Award Categories and Criteria**
* **Bravery:** Recognizes selfless service despite life risk, outstanding courage in adverse situations, or exceptional mental strength and presence of mind.
* **Social Service:** Commends leadership in motivating and mobilizing communities toward the rights of women, children, and others.
* **Environment:** Honors consistent efforts and achievements in environmental issues at various levels.
* **Sports:** Encourages consistent achievements in sports at national and international levels.
* **Art and Culture:** Celebrates efforts to promote cultural heritage in fields such as music, dance, painting, and sculpture.
* **Science and Technology:** Recognizes innovations and new developments that positively impact society or solve real-world challenges.
**Eligibility Requirements for 2026**
* Candidates must be Indian citizens and residents.
* Nominees must be between 5 and 18 years of age as of July 31, 2026.
* The achievement or incident must have occurred within two years of the July 31, 2026, deadline.
* Previous recipients of the PMRBP in any category are ineligible for nomination.
**Nomination and Selection Process**
* Nominations are accepted through self-nomination, individuals, or institutions via the website `awards.gov.in`.
* Specific recommendations are invited from Central/Chief Ministers, Governors, MPs, District Magistrates, and heads of educational institutions like KVs and Navodaya Vidyalayas.
* Applicants must provide personal details, a recent photograph, supporting documents, and a maximum 1,000-word description of their achievement.
* Final selection is made by a committee chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development and approved by the Union Minister.
**Award Benefits and Logistics**
* Awardees receive a medal, a certificate, and a citation.
* The Ministry covers round-trip economy travel, local transport, boarding, and lodging for the awardee and up to two guardians.
* Divyang (differently-abled) awardees may be provided business class tickets to minimize physical strain.
**Impact Analysis**
**Exceptional Children (Aged 5-18)**
**Impact:** They receive national recognition and motivation for their achievements in academics, personal conduct, and specialized fields.
**Action Required:** Must submit applications (self-nomination or through others) by the July 31, 2026, deadline with all required supporting documentation.
**Parents and Guardians**
**Impact:** They are entitled to accompanied travel and lodging at government expense to attend the award ceremony in New Delhi.
**Action Required:** Support the child’s application process and, if the award is posthumous or the child cannot attend, receive the award on their behalf.
**Government and Educational Authorities**
**Impact:** District Magistrates, School Principals, and Ministers act as key scouts to discover and recommend "hidden gems" across the country.
**Action Required:** Identify deserving candidates within their jurisdictions or institutions and submit recommendations through the official portal.
**Ministry of Women and Child Development**
**Impact:** Responsible for the administration, selection, and funding of the awards program.
**Action Required:** Form the awards committee, review nominations, provide final approvals, and facilitate the travel and hosting of awardees.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar: India’s premier national honour for children aged 5 to 18, recognizing outstanding achievements in categories such as Bravery, Science & Technology, and Social Service.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The central government ministry responsible for the administration, selection committee formation, and funding of the national awards for children.
Veer Bal Diwas: Observed on December 26 to commemorate the martyrdom of the sons of Guru Gobind Singh, serving as the official annual occasion for presenting the awards.
Awards Committee: A selection body chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development that reviews nominations and recommends awardees to the Union Minister.
PIB Backgrounder
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
Honouring India’s Exceptional Children
प्रव तथ: 23 JUN 2026 12:50PM by PIB Delhi
Key Takeaways
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is India’s premier national honour dedicated to celebrating
the exceptional resilience, courage, creativity, and indomitable spirit of young citizens aged 5 to 18.
Conferred annually by the Hon’ble President of India at a special ceremony in New Delhi, the award
recognizes outstanding achievements across six distinct categories: Bravery, Social Service, Environment,
Sports, Art and Culture, and Science and Technology. By scheduling this prestigious presentation on Veer
Bal Diwas (26th December)—a day dedicated to honouring the historical sacrifice and moral fortitude of
the young sons of Guru Gobind Singh—the Government of India bridges contemporary youth excellence
with a timeless legacy of conviction.
India’s Exceptional Children
India is a land of the brave, defined by generations of courage, intellectual brilliance, and sacrifice from its
youth. From legendary young freedom fighters like Khudiram Bose to the Adi Shankara, who mastered
the Vedas as a young child —the spirit of extraordinary conviction at a young age is deeply woven into the
nation's history.
Today, this timeless spirit lives on as the Government honors exceptional children between the ages of 5
and 18 with the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. The award aims to recognise and
honour children with exceptional achievements in various fields. The award serves to encourage and
inspire young talent by acknowledging their contributions at the national level and motivating others to
strive for excellence.
The Hon’ble President of India presents the award on Veer Bal Diwas, observed on 26th December.
Comprising a medal, a certificate and a citation, the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is a tribute to
the resilience, courage, creativity, and indomitable spirit of India’s young changemakers.
Since its inception in 2019, 203 children have received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.
Through this initiative, the government is encouraging children to strive for excellence not just in
academics but also in other pursuits, including personal conduct.
Awards Conferred on Veer Bal Diwas
The Government observes Veer Bal Diwas on 26th December every year. The day remembers Sahibzada
Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, sons of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
Zorawar and Fateh Singh were aged 9 and 7 respectively. On December 26, 1704, they were martyred for
refusing to abandon their faith under coercion. Their martyrdom represents courage, moral strength and
devotion even at a young age. Their sacrifice and bravery in the face of adversity were extraordinary, andthey continue to inspire children today.
Conferring the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on Veer Bal Diwas celebrates the talent, creativity
and achievements of India's youth — in history and today.
Award Details
Children are conferred around 25 awards for exceptional bravery and for excellence in six fields:
Bravery: The award is given to a young child to acknowledge her/his selfless service in the face of risk to
her/his own life;
and/or an act of outstanding courage and daring against an adverse natural or man-made situations;
and/or an exceptional act of mental strength, quick wit and presence of mind in the face of grave danger to
self and society.
Social Service: Leadership skills in motivating, organizing and mobilising community towards rights of
women & children and others
Environment: Consistent efforts/achievements in environmental issues at various levels
Sports: Consistent achievements in sports at the national and international levels to be encouraged
Art and Culture: Consistent efforts to promote cultural heritage and achievements in art & culture at the
national and international levels in art, music (vocal & instrumental), dance, painting or any other form of
art /culture.
Science and Technology: Includes new developments/Innovation that have positively impacted society,
improved quality of life, or contributed solving real-world challenges.
They Showed the Way — Previous PMRBP AwardeesThe Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar has honoured children whose courage, creativity and
compassion belie their years. Among recent recipients:
Arnav Anupriya Maharshi (Science & Technology, 2025) – A physically handicapped 17-year-
old from Aurangabad, Maharashtra who developed an AI-based rehabilitation tool for hand
paralysis.
Karina Thapa (Bravery, December 2024) – A 17-year-old from Amravati, Maharashtra, who
saved 36 lives by removing a gas cylinder from an active fire scene during a rescue operation, and
was recognised as a Fire Brand Ambassador by the Municipal Corporation
Aaditya Vijay Bramhane (Bravery, 2024) — The 12-year-old from Nandurbar, Maharashtra, leapt
into a river to save his drowning cousins despite not being a strong swimmer, sacrificing his life in
the rescue. He was honoured posthumously.
Anushka Pathak (Art & Culture, 2024) — Began Katha Vachan at the age of four and has
performed Shrimad Bhagvat Katha and Ramcharitmanas recitals in over 22 states and cities.
Armaan Ubhrani (Art & Culture, 2024) — Chhattisgarh's six-year-old "Google Math Boy," the
youngest in the India Book of Records to solve 100 multiplication sums, and the youngest author of
a book trilogy.
Hetvi Kantibhai Khimsuriya (Art & Culture, 2024) — Living with severe cerebral palsy, this
Vadodara artist has created 250 free-hand paintings and donates her disability pension to a special
child care institute.
Charvi A (Sports, 2024) — India's No. 1 in girls' U-8 and U-10 chess; Under-8 World and
Commonwealth Chess Champion in 2022.
R Surya Prasad (Sports, 2024) — Began mountaineering training at five and scaled Mt.
Kilimanjaro in April 2022; he was nine when honoured.
Aditya Pratap Singh Chauhan (Innovation, 2023) — Developed "MICROPA," a cost-effective
technology to detect and filter microplastics from drinking water.
Anoushka Jolly (Social Service, 2023) — Created the "Anti-Bullying Squad Kavach" app, which
has offered mental health counselling to students for four years.
Avnish Tiwari (Social Service, 2024) — A nine-year-old with Down syndrome who trekked to
Everest Base Camp at seven and featured in TEDx talks, sparking a national conversation on
inclusivity.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026
Eligibility & Nomination Details
The children nominated for this award must be:
Indian citizens and residents of India
Between 5 and 18 years of age (as on July 31, 2026)
Not 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.
The award is not conferred posthumously, but exceptions may be made.
A child can be nominated for more than one category, but the committee has the discretion to accept only
one application.
Any individual or institution can nominate a child. Children may also apply through self-nomination.
Recommendations are also invited from certain government entities and offices. These include:
Central Ministers
Chief MinistersGovernors
Lieutenant Governors
Administrators of Union Territories
Members of Parliament
Ministries and departments of the central government
State Governments
Union Territory Governments
District Magistrates and Collectors
Principal Secretaries of Women and Child Development or Social Welfare Departments
Educational Institutions and schools under the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan or the Navodaya
Vidyalaya Samiti.
Applicants must complete their personal details and the award category and upload a recent photograph
and supporting documents. They must also submit a brief description of their achievement and its
outcome, in a maximum of 1,000 words.
All nomination entries must be submitted at https://awards.gov.in by the deadline.
Awards Committee
The Union Minister for Women and Child Development constitutes the awards committee and gives final
approval for the awards. The committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child
Development, comprises domain experts from the award categories. It reviews the nominations and
recommends the awardees.
Expenses Covered
The Ministry of Women and Child Development covers round-trip economy travel, local transport,
boarding and lodging for awardees and up to two parents or guardians. Travel is covered from the
awardee's residence or institution of study to New Delhi, capped at the economy fare or actual expense,
whichever is lower. Divyang awardees may be provided business class tickets to minimise physical strain.
Awards must be received in person; if the awardee cannot attend, or in posthumous cases, a parent or
guardian may receive it on their behalf.
Celebrating Nation’s Future
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) is more than a medal and a citation. It is the
nation's way of telling young citizens that their courage, creativity, and compassion matter. The award
celebrates the determination, ability, zeal, and enthusiasm of our children.
By honouring them on Veer Bal Diwas, the government links today's achievers to a timeless legacy. The
sacrifice of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh embodied conviction beyond their years.
This vision relies on your collective eyes and ears to discover these hidden gems. If you know a child
whose extraordinary journey—be it an act of sudden heroism or years of quiet dedication to science, art,
or social change—deserves national recognition, remember that bringing their story to the national stage
begins with your single nomination. If you are that child, even better. Just Click!
Nominate Now
References
Press Information Bureau:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=156743&ModuleId=3®=48&lang=2https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/dec/doc20251226745801.pdf
Others:
https://www.facebook.com/indiainnorway/posts/on-26121704-7-9-year-old-baba-fateh-singh-zorawar-sin
gh-the-sahibzade-of-10th-gu/499570798943757/
https://awards.gov.in/Home/AwardLibrary
Click here for pdf file
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