National Award for Individual Excellence

National Award for Individual Excellence is a central award scheme of the Government of India that honours and encourages individuals devoted to the empowerment of persons with disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Nominations for the year 2026 are open on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at awards.gov.in, with the portal accepting applications from 15 May 2026 up to the last date of 15 August 2026.

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, confers this award every year on individuals whose work has improved the lives of Divyangjan. Awardees receive a certificate, a medal and a cash prize for their contribution.

National Award for Individual Excellence - Introduction

This scheme gives national recognition to persons with disabilities and to professionals who work for the welfare, coverage and betterment of Divyangjan. Any individual can apply on their own or be nominated by someone else for a single category through the official awards portal.

The award is given in several categories every year:

• Sarvashreshth Divyangjan (Most Outstanding Persons with Disabilities): 6 awards, 3 for male and 3 for female candidates.
• Shreshth Divyangjan (Outstanding Persons with Disabilities): 10 awards, 5 for male and 5 for female candidates.
• Shreshth Srijansheel Divyang Bal/Balika (Outstanding Creative Child with Disabilities): 2 awards, 1 for male and 1 for female candidate.
• Sarvashreshth Vyakti: 1 award for an individual working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
• Most Outstanding Rehabilitation Professional: 1 award for a person working in disability rehabilitation.
• Most Outstanding Research/Innovation/Product Development: 1 award in the field of disability.

Key Information

Eligibility

The selection is based on the disability and work criteria set out in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Anyone who matches the rules below can apply for the relevant category:

• For Sarvashreshth Divyangjan, Shreshth Divyangjan and Shreshth Srijansheel Divyang Bal/Balika, the applicant must have a benchmark disability of 40% or more as specified in the Act.
• The applicant may self-nominate or be nominated by any other person for one single category only.
• The applicant must not have received any National Award from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in the past 5 years.
• Minimum age for Sarvashreshth and Shreshth Divyangjan categories is 18 years.
• The Creative Child category is for applicants up to the age of 18 years.
• For the empowerment, rehabilitation professional and research or innovation categories, any individual, including a person with disability, can apply if they are not a past recipient of a National Award in the last 5 years.

Benefits

Selected awardees are honoured at a national ceremony with a certificate, a medal and a cash prize. The cash amount for the year 2026 stays as per the following structure:

• Sarvashreshth Divyangjan: ₹2.00 lakh.
• Shreshth Divyangjan: ₹1.00 lakh.
• Shreshth Srijansheel Divyang Bal/Balika: ₹1.00 lakh.
• Sarvashreshth Vyakti: ₹1.00 lakh.
• Most Outstanding Rehabilitation Professional: ₹1.00 lakh.
• Most Outstanding Research/Innovation/Product Development: ₹1.00 lakh.

Application Process

Candidates must register on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal and then fill the application for their chosen category. The whole process is online and does not need any recommendation from an authority.

STEP 1 - Open the official awards portal at awards.gov.in and select the registration option to create an account.

STEP 2 - Choose the category as Individual and enter the required fields such as name, date of birth, mobile number, email and Aadhaar details, then submit to get login credentials.

STEP 3 - Log in to the official portal with the generated credentials and locate the National Award for Individual Excellence scheme.

STEP 4 - Click Apply Now and complete the online application form with correct information, then upload the supporting documents and submit the final form before 15 August 2026.

Documents Required

Keep the required documents ready before starting the application so that the form can be completed without delay. The main papers asked are:

• Valid disability certificate showing 40% or more disability where applicable.
• Detailed nomination form with all fields filled correctly.
• Supporting proof of achievements, work or research contribution.
• Valid identity proof such as Aadhaar card or Passport.
• Endorsement or recommendation certificates from institutions or authorized guardians where needed.

References

• DEPwD Notification for National Awards 2026
• Guidelines for National Awards
• Award Library on Rashtriya Puraskar Portal
• Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Website

FAQ's

What is the objective of this award scheme?

The scheme will recognise and encourage individuals who have shown excellence in the empowerment of persons with disabilities in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and also honour the contribution of rehabilitation and research professionals.

Who is eligible to apply for this award?

Any person with a benchmark disability of 40% or more can apply, and so can professionals working in disability rehabilitation, empowerment and research, provided they did not receive a National Award from the Department in the last 5 years.

Are there specific age restrictions for these awards?

Yes, candidates for Sarvashreshth and Shreshth Divyangjan must be at least 18 years old, while the Creative Child category is for applicants up to the age of 18.

How many categories can an individual apply for?

An individual is allowed to submit a nomination for only one award category each year.

What is the amount of the cash award provided?

Candidates selected for Sarvashreshth Divyangjan receive ₹2.00 lakh, while all other categories receive a prize of ₹1.00 lakh along with a medal and certificate.

What is the last date to apply for 2026?

The award portal is open from 15 May 2026 and the last date for submitting nominations is 15 August 2026.

How is the selection process conducted?

Specialized screening committees review the nominations and the final selection of awardees is made by the National Selection Committee.