The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, 2024, will be presented by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, to 19 outstanding children in a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan on January 22, 2024.
On January 23, 2024, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will engage with the recipients of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.
Minister of Women & Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, along with Minister of State, Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, will interact with and extend congratulations to the children for their exceptional accomplishments in categories such as Art and Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Science & Technology, Social Service, and Sports.
Among the 19 recipients selected nationwide, 9 boys and 10 girls from 18 States and UTs, including 2 Aspirational Districts, will be honored for their remarkable achievements in various fields.
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is a prestigious award bestowed by the Government of India to recognize children aged 5 to 18 for their excellence in Art & Culture, Bravery, Environment, Innovation, Science & Technology, Social Service, and Sports. Each awardee receives a medal and a Certificate in acknowledgment of their outstanding contributions.
This year, the Ministry of Women & Child Development made concerted efforts to increase nominations by advertising in regional and national newspapers. The National Award Portal accepted nominations from May 9 to September 15. Line Ministries, Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all States/UTs, and local authorities were urged to publicize the award through various media channels, ensuring participation from all levels, including Gram Panchayats and Municipalities.
In the past two years, Artificial Intelligence facilitated data crawling through media content. The Social Media Cell of the Ministry of WCD continuously monitored news content on children throughout the year. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) played a role in recommending deserving candidates.
To maintain the integrity of claims, multiple layers of verification were implemented, involving District Magistrates, Domain Experts, and a Screening Committee comprising experts in diverse disciplines. Profiles shortlisted after the Screening Committee Meeting underwent further scrutiny by National Level Independent Experts from various domains. The National Selection Committee made the final selection based on the recommendations and assessments.