Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award is the highest national honor that recognizes outstanding achievements of individuals in land, air, and water adventure activities. The scheme encourages youths to show bravery, teamwork, and quick reflexes in challenging conditions by giving a cash prize of ₹ 15,00,000, a bronze statuette, a certificate, and official gear, while also honoring lifetime contributions to the field of adventure. Nominations for the 2026 award cycle are open on the official portal from 21 July 2026 to 20 August 2026.
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award - Introduction
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, conferred by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is a prestigious honor for individuals who show exceptional bravery and leadership in adventure sports. The scheme promotes the spirit of endurance, risk-taking, and cooperative teamwork across India. The award has been given every year since 1994.
Government of India presents this award every year to recognize extraordinary talent in four categories: Land Adventure, Water (Sea) Adventure, Air Adventure, and Life Time Achievement. For the first three categories, the government looks at achievements over the last 3 years, whereas for the Life Time Achievement award, it considers the entire career performance.
The online nomination process runs through the dedicated portal at https://awards.gov.in. Anyone with strong leadership qualities and continuous achievement in the field can apply before the deadline.
Key Information
| Key Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Sports & Culture |
| Target Beneficiaries | Sportsperson |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports |
| Nomination Window 2026 | 21 July 2026 to 20 August 2026 |
Benefits
Winning Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award brings big recognition and financial support. The benefits include:
| Benefit Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Award Money | ₹ 15,00,000 |
| Accoutrements | Bronze statuette, certificate, and blazer with a silken tie or a saree |
| Travel Allowance | Reimbursement of airfare (economy class) or AC 1-tier rail journey via the shortest route |
| Support | Free boarding and lodging during the ceremony, with equal facilities for one companion for lady or differently-abled awardees |
The status of this award matches the level of the prestigious Arjuna Awards conferred by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Eligibility
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, the applicant should show very good performance, strong leadership qualities, and a disciplined sense of adventure. Whether the person is an expert in land, air, or water sports, continuous achievements over the past 3 years are required for the main categories. For the Life Time Achievement award, the government looks at the entire professional journey. The award can also be given posthumously if a candidate meets the criteria.
Award Categories
1. Land Adventure
2. Water (Sea) Adventure
3. Air Adventure
4. Life Time Achievement for adventure activities (Land, Sea, and Air).
Exclusions
The award is not conferred twice to the same person under the same category. Also, if the Government of India finds circumstances that make a recipient appear unworthy, it can cancel or annul the award. In such cases, the recipient has to return the statuette and the award money unless the government decides to restore the status later.
Application Process
Application Steps
STEP 1 - Go to the official nomination portal at https://awards.gov.in and open the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award nomination section. The window for the 2026 cycle is open from 21 July 2026 to 20 August 2026.
STEP 2 - Collect a recommendation from the relevant authority. This can be the State Government's Youth or Sports Department, or a recognized body such as the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for Land Adventure, the National Institute of Water Sports for Water Adventure, or the Aero Club of India for Air Adventure. Serving military or paramilitary personnel must get the recommendation from their respective Adventure Cell.
STEP 3 - Fill in the online form with full details of past performance as given in the annual guidelines and upload the scanned recommendation letter along with the required documents.
STEP 4 - Submit the application before the last date. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports checks all applications, verifies achievements through apex bodies, and a selection committee reviews the qualified entries before finalizing the awardees.
Documents
Keep the following list of required documents ready in digital format:
- Passport sized photograph
- Proof of identity
- Proof of address
- Proof of age (10th marksheet)
- Educational qualification certificates
- Completed and signed description of achievements as per the official format
If selected, the person also has to provide a bank mandate form, high-resolution action photographs of the adventure activities, and measurements for the formal attire.
References
FAQ's
Can I apply if I have already received this award in the past?
The person may apply again, but not under the same category. For example, if someone won for Land Adventure, they cannot win again for Land Adventure, but they remain eligible if they achieve distinction in Water Adventure.
Who is eligible to apply for this award?
Any Indian citizen actively working in the field of adventure or, in posthumous cases, an immediate family member, may apply.
How should I submit the recommendation letter?
Collect the letter from the competent authority and upload the scanned copy directly onto the portal along with the other documents.
Can an organization apply for this award?
No, this scheme is made for individuals only. The individual option should be selected during registration.
What if I cannot get a formal recommendation?
Recommendations are required for military personnel, but other applicants can mark NA in the recommending authority column if they are unable to get one.
Does submitting the form guarantee an award?
No, the submission only starts the application. Eligibility depends on the ministry's scrutiny and the selection committee's final review.