Sagar Samman Award for Gallantry

Sagar Samman Award for Gallantry is an annual national honour presented by the Directorate General of Shipping under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to recognise Indian seafarers who show outstanding bravery in severe maritime conditions, even at risk to their own life.

The award forms part of the Sagar Samman Awards given out during the National Maritime Day Celebrations held every year on 5 April. For the 2026 cycle, the national awards portal at awards.gov.in accepted nominations from 1 January 2026 to 28 February 2026, and the grand finale of the National Maritime Day celebrations 2026 conferred the Sagar Samman Award for Gallantry 2026 on deserving seafarers.

Sagar Samman Award for Gallantry - Introduction

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched the Sagar Samman Award for Gallantry to honour Indian seafarers who go beyond their normal duties to save lives, property, or the marine environment in difficult situations. The scheme is run by the National Maritime Day Celebrations Committee (NMDC), set up in Mumbai.

The award celebrates people who show exceptional courage and quick thinking in the most challenging maritime incidents. Anyone who has risked their safety to rescue others at sea is considered for this recognition.

For the 2026 cycle, the awards portal accepted recommendations covering the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. So nominations are based on gallantry acts performed in the immediately preceding calendar year. The award remains open to new nominations every year as part of the ongoing programme.

Benefits

Award winners receive a formal set of honours presented during the National Maritime Day Celebrations. The package varies with how many people are involved in the act.

• Prestigious Trophy and a formal Citation presented to the Master or the person(s) involved in the gallantry.
• Individual medals for every seafarer when more than one person takes part in the brave act, with the names and ranks of all involved cited clearly.
• Public recognition at the national event and a lasting record in the maritime honour list.

Eligibility

Applicants need to meet a clear set of conditions to get nominated for the award.

• Must be an Indian seafarer who has served aboard a vessel during the relevant period.
• Must have performed an act of outstanding bravery in hazardous maritime conditions, including at risk to one's own life.
• The act must involve saving lives, property, or the marine environment and should go well beyond standard professional duties.
• Nominations relate to gallantry performed in the previous calendar year, so the facts and dates must match that window.

Any individual, company, firm, association, or organisation can send a nomination. Self-nomination is allowed, but it must carry at least two recommendations from separate, well-known people or groups in the maritime sector.

Application Process

Nominations for the award are collected electronically through the official national awards portal. All forms must be signed and scanned before upload.

STEP 1 - Go to the official national awards portal at awards.gov.in and open the Sagar Samman Award 2026 page under ongoing nominations.

STEP 2 - Register or log in using the official credentials of the recommending authority. Self-nominees need to attach two separate recommendation letters.

STEP 3 - Fill in the nomination form with complete details of the gallantry act, the date and place, and the bio-data of the nominee as per the proforma for the award.

STEP 4 - Upload the signed and scanned documents, including the incident report, eye-witness statements, and the verification certificate, then submit before the closing date.

Documents

Applicants must keep the following documents ready while filing the nomination.

• Comprehensive Incident Report with date and location details
• Statements from eye-witnesses of the gallantry act
• Valid Identity Proof of the seafarer
• Seafarer Rank Details and vessel information
• Legal Heir Certificate when the award is sought posthumously

Selection Process

Nominations received are sent to an Evaluation Committee made up of 3 to 5 experts of Additional Secretary rank and above. The Committee checks every application and gives its results with detailed reasons to the Chairperson of the NMDC Central Committee. The final list of award winners is declared by the Director General of Shipping, and names are announced by 21 March of the relevant year.

No serving officer of the Central, State, or Union Territory government is considered for the award. The award can be given posthumously up to a maximum of five years from the day of demise. If no nominee is found suitable in a year, the award is not given for that year.

References

• Sagar Samman Award 2026 - ongoing nominations
• Access the National Awards Portal
• Nomination Process for Sagar Samman Awards

FAQ's

Who is eligible for the Sagar Samman Award for Gallantry?

Any Indian seafarer who performs an act of outstanding bravery in hazardous maritime conditions, at risk to their own life, is eligible for nomination.

What acts qualify for this award?

The committee considers active life-saving, successful rescue operations, and extraordinary courage shown during challenging maritime incidents. The act must clearly go beyond normal professional duties.

Can the award be given posthumously?

Yes, the committee can give the award posthumously, provided the nomination comes within a maximum of five years from the day of demise of the person.

Is self-nomination permitted?

Yes, self-nomination is allowed, but it must carry at least two recommendations from separate well-known people or organisations in the maritime sector.

How does the evaluation process work?

An Evaluation Committee of 3 to 5 experts reviews all nominations and gives its recommendations with reasons to the NMDC Central Committee. The final list is declared by the Director General of Shipping.

What does the award package include?

The package includes a Trophy and a Citation. When more than one seafarer is involved, individual medals are presented to everyone whose names and ranks are recorded.

What is the main aim of this award programme?

The scheme honours bravery, celebrates heroism, and encourages other seafarers to act with courage during maritime operations.

Can a nomination be rejected?

Yes, incomplete, incorrect, unclear, or illegible applications are rejected at once. False or fraudulent declarations can also lead to the award being withdrawn.