President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, 12 May 2025, presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 to 15 nursing personnel at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, marking International Nurses Day and recognising exceptional contributions to nursing across India. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda was also present at the ceremony.

Who Received the Awards

The awardees represent a wide geographic and institutional cross-section of India's nursing workforce. Recipients include Sub Inspector Kulwinder Parhi from Leh, Ujwala Mahadev Soyam from Maharashtra, Lalenthangi Hnamte from Mizoram, Madhu Mala Gurung from Sikkim, and Pooka Parmar Rana from Uttarakhand.

Other honourees include Gita Karmakar from West Bengal, Poonam Verma from Chandigarh, Deepa Biju from Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Sharwan Kumar Dhaka from Delhi, Raksha Rupo Parvatkar from Goa, Kabitha Jagannath from Karnataka, Manjumol V.S. from Kerala, Aysha Beebu K. from Lakshadweep, Dr R. Shankar Shanumugam from Tamil Nadu, and Maj Gen Lissamma P.V. from the Indian Army.

About the National Florence Nightingale Award

Instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Florence Nightingale Award honours the dedication, compassion, and resilience that define the nursing profession. It is presented to Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and Lady Health Visitors serving across Central and State Governments, Union Territories, and voluntary organisations.

Each award carries a Certificate of Merit, a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, and a medal symbolising national gratitude for the services rendered by these healthcare professionals.

Significance of International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day is observed every year on 12 May to coincide with the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, whose pioneering work laid the foundation for modern nursing practices worldwide. This year's theme — 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives' — underscores the importance of supporting nurses through safer working conditions, better pay, leadership opportunities, and access to quality education and training.

According to the campaign message, healthcare outcomes improve meaningfully when nurses receive fair salaries, adequate staffing support, and institutional backing. This comes at a time when India's public health infrastructure continues to face pressure on nurse-to-patient ratios in several states.

Broader Context

The awards ceremony reflects a growing national recognition of nursing as a critical pillar of India's healthcare system — not merely a support function. Notably, this year's list includes representation from remote and underserved regions such as Lakshadweep, Leh, and the Northeast, signalling an intent to acknowledge frontline contributions beyond metro-centric institutions. With the government's push to strengthen primary and community healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat framework, empowering nursing personnel remains central to last-mile delivery.