The Ministry of Women and Child Development has opened nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2026, with the deadline set at 31 July 2026. The award recognises the determination, creativity, courage, and exceptional achievements of Indian children across six fields. An official confirmed the development on Tuesday, 23 June.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, nominees must be Indian citizens residing in India, aged between 5 and 18 years as on 31 July 2026. Children who have previously received the award in any category are not eligible to apply again. Crucially, the act, incident, or achievement being cited must have taken place within two years of the nomination deadline.

A child may be nominated under more than one category; however, the selection committee retains the discretion to consider only a single application per nominee.

Selection Process and Award Details

Awardees are chosen by a committee constituted by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and headed by the Secretary of the ministry. Around 25 awards are conferred annually across six categories: Bravery, Social Service, Environment, Sports, Art and Culture, and Science and Technology.

Each award comprises a medal, a certificate, and a citation. The President of India presents the honours on Veer Bal Diwas, observed every year on 26 December — a day that commemorates Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, the sons of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

Past Winners Who Set the Bar

Since the award's inception in 2019, a total of 203 children have been honoured. Among notable past recipients is Anoushka Jolly (Social Service, 2023), who developed the 'Anti-Bullying Squad Kavach' app, providing mental health counselling to students over four years.

Arnav Anupriya Maharshi (Science and Technology, 2025), a 17-year-old with physical disabilities from Aurangabad, Maharashtra, built an AI-based rehabilitation tool for hand paralysis patients. Meanwhile, Karina Thapa (Bravery, December 2024), also 17, from Amravati, Maharashtra, was recognised after she removed a gas cylinder from an active fire scene, saving 36 lives. She was subsequently named a Fire Brand Ambassador by the local Municipal Corporation.

Significance and Broader Context

The PMRBP is positioned by the government as more than a ceremonial recognition — it is framed as an effort to encourage children to pursue excellence beyond academics, including personal conduct and community impact. By linking the ceremony to Veer Bal Diwas, the award draws a deliberate parallel between the sacrifice of the Sahibzadas and the achievements of today's young recipients.

This is the eighth edition of the award since its launch, and with nominations now open, families, schools, and civil society organisations have until 31 July 2026 to submit their candidates.