Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026 Guidelines: Eligibility, Categories and Apply Process PDF

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is a national award given every year by the President of India to children for their remarkable achievements in different fields. The award celebrates the energy, determination, ability, zeal and enthusiasm of the young citizens of the country.

Nominations for the 2026 cycle were invited by the Ministry of Women and Child Development through the official Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at awards.gov.in. The last date for submitting nominations was 31 July 2026. The award is announced on 26 December on Veer Bal Diwas and is conferred in the ceremony held before Republic Day.

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026 Highlights

Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

Children who meet the following conditions can be nominated for the award.

• A child who is an Indian citizen and is a resident of India can apply for the award.
• The age of the child should be above 5 years and not more than 18 years as on 31 July of the respective year.

Award Categories

The award is given in six different categories to recognize the varied talents and achievements of children.

• Bravery, for children who show courage and presence of mind in difficult situations.
• Social Service, for children who work for the welfare of others and their community.
• Environment, for children who work to protect and improve the environment.
• Sports, for children who show exceptional talent and performance in sports.
• Art and Culture, for children who excel in music, dance, painting and other art forms.
• Science and Technology, for children who show creativity and skill in science and technology.

Rewards under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

Every awardee receives a set of rewards from the government for their achievement.

• A medal to honor the achievement of the child.
• A cash prize of Rs 1,00,000 for the selected child.
• A certificate and citation to recognize the contribution of the child.

How to Apply for Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

STEP 1 - Visit the official Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at awards.gov.in and click on the Register option on the top right corner of the page.

STEP 2 - Fill in the required details like first name, last name, date of birth, applicant type, mobile number, email ID and Aadhaar number. Enter the CAPTCHA and click on Submit to complete the registration.

STEP 3 - After logging in, click on Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026 under the Ongoing Nominations section and click on Nominate or Apply Now.

STEP 4 - Select the relevant field and sub field, and choose whether you are nominating yourself or another child. Provide the basic details of the nominee.

STEP 5 - Write a short write-up of up to 1000 words about the achievement and its impact, and upload the supporting documents in PDF format along with a recent photograph in jpg, jpeg or png format.

STEP 6 - Review the application, save it as a draft if needed, and submit it before the last date. A downloadable copy of the application is generated after submission.

Selection Process

The nominations received are first checked by the Screening Committee. The final selection of awardees is done by the National Selection Committee based on the merit of the achievements of the children.

FAQ's

Who can nominate a child for Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar?

Any individual or institution can nominate a child for the award. Children can also apply through self-nomination.

What is the age limit for the award?

Children aged above 5 years and not more than 18 years as on 31 July of the respective year are eligible for the award.

What is the reward given to the awardees?

Each awardee gets a medal, a certificate, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000.

How are the nominations submitted?

Nominations are submitted online only through the official Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at awards.gov.in.