PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Conferred on 20 Children

Twenty children from 18 States and Union Territories were conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2025 by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, during a special ceremony held on 26 December 2025. The occasion also coincided with the nationwide observance of Veer Baal Diwas.

About Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP)

• PMRBP is a prestigious national-level award conferred annually by the President of India.
• It recognises exceptional achievements of children below 18 years.
• The award is given in six categories:
  • Bravery
  • Social Service
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Art & Culture
  • Science & Technology

Eligibility and Selection Process

• Eligible children must be Indian citizens, residing in India, and aged between 5 and 18 years as on 31 July of the award year.
• The act or achievement must have occurred within two years prior to the last date of application.
• Selection is made by the PMRBP Committee, constituted by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and chaired by the Secretary, MWCD.
• A maximum of 25 awards can be conferred annually, though this limit may be relaxed in exceptional cases.

Award Components

• Each award consists of a Medal and a Certificate.
• The award is generally not conferred posthumously, except in rare and highly deserving cases approved by the Committee.

Veer Baal Diwas: Significance

• The Government of India observes Veer Baal Diwas on 26 December every year.
• It commemorates the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, the youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
• They were bricked alive at Sirhind (present-day Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab) in 1705 for refusing to renounce their faith under coercion.
• Since its inception in 2022, Veer Baal Diwas has been observed across the country to honour their courage and inspire youth, with special programmes organised in schools nationwide.