President Murmu presents Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 to 15 nurses
Synopsis
On International Nurses Day 2026, President Droupadi Murmu honoured 15 nursing professionals from across India with the National Florence Nightingale Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan — each receiving a medal, certificate, and ₹1 lakh cash prize in recognition of their service in some of the country's most demanding healthcare settings.
Key Takeaways
President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 on 12 May 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan .
15 nursing personnel from across India were honoured on International Nurses Day .
Each award carries a Certificate of Merit , a medal , and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh .
The award is instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and covers Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and Lady Health Visitors.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and MoS Prataprao Jadhav attended the ceremony.
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 to 15 nursing personnel at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, coinciding with International Nurses Day. The President underscored that nursing personnel "exemplify the highest standards of service and play a crucial role in delivering quality healthcare, often in the most challenging circumstances."
Ceremony and Key Dignitaries
The function at Rashtrapati Bhavan brought together nurses from diverse regions and healthcare settings across the country. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and Minister of State Prataprao Jadhav were also present at the event. Nadda, echoing this year's theme
Point of View
But the ₹1 lakh cash prize — unchanged for years — barely reflects the economic pressures India's nursing workforce faces. With a chronic shortage of trained nurses in rural and tribal areas, the recognition of awardees from Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Mizoram is symbolically significant, yet the structural gaps in nurse-to-patient ratios and wage parity remain unaddressed. Celebrating excellence is necessary; building the conditions for it to be routine is the harder task.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Florence Nightingale Award?
The National Florence Nightingale Award is a prestigious national honour instituted by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to recognise the dedication, compassion, and resilience of nursing professionals. It is presented annually on International Nurses Day, 12 May, and carries a Certificate of Merit, a medal, and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.
Who received the Florence Nightingale Award 2026?
Fifteen nursing personnel received the award in 2026, including Dr Sharwan Kumar Dhaka (Delhi), Major General Lissamma P. V. (MoD IHQ, Delhi), Kulwinder Parhi (Ladakh), Ujwala Mahadev Soyam (Maharashtra), Lalenthangi Hnamte (Mizoram), Madhu Mala Gurung (Sikkim), Pooja Parmar Rana (Uttarakhand), Gita Karmakar (West Bengal), Poonam Verma (Chandigarh), Deepa Biju (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu), Raksha Rupo Parvatkar (Goa), Kavitha Jagannath (Karnataka), Manju Mol V. S. (Keralam), Aysha Beebi K (Lakshadweep), and Professor (Dr) R Shankar Shanmugam (Tamil Nadu).
Who presented the Florence Nightingale Awards 2026?
President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on 12 May 2026, International Nurses Day.
Who is eligible for the National Florence Nightingale Award?
The award is open to Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and Lady Health Visitors serving across Central and State Governments, Union Territories, and voluntary organisations across India.
What was the theme for International Nurses Day 2026?
The theme for International Nurses Day 2026 was 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives', which was highlighted by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda at the award ceremony in New Delhi.
