Online nominations for Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026 to close on Aug 15
New Delhi, July 31
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has extended the last date for submission of online nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar from July 31 to August 15, an official said on Friday.
The nomination process for the PMRBP commenced on April 1, through the National Awards Portal (https://awards.gov.in).
The awards are conferred on children who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in the fields of Bravery, Social Service, Environment, Sports, Arts and Culture, and Science and Technology, an official statement said.
Any child who is an Indian citizen residing in India, is aged above five years and not exceeding 18 years of age (as on July 31, 2026), is eligible for the awards.
Nominations, including self-nominations and recommendations by any citizen, would be accepted only through the National Awards Portal, the statement said.
In another development, the Ministry of Women and Child Development announced plans to observe World Breastfeeding Week 2026 from August 1 to 7 across the country.
This year's theme is Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works, an official statement added.
The week-long campaign will create awareness among families, communities and healthcare providers about early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond alongside appropriate complementary feeding, it said.
Breastfeeding is among the most effective interventions for child survival, healthy growth and cognitive development, it added.
The Ministry urged families to ensure every newborn receives breast milk within the first hour after birth - the Golden Hour.
The first milk, colostrum, often called the baby's first natural vaccine, is rich in antibodies and essential nutrition, and must not be discarded.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months means feeding the baby only breast milk -- no water, honey, ghutti, glucose or formula. Breast milk alone meets all of an infant's nutritional and hydration needs during this period, the Ministry statement said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Happy to see the focus on World Breastfeeding Week too! As a paediatric nurse in Bengaluru, I can't stress enough how important the "Golden Hour" is. Many new mothers, especially in urban areas, are unaware about colostrum. This campaign is much needed to bust myths like discarding the first milk.
Nice to see the PMRBP nomination process being so transparent with the online portal. Do they have any provisions for kids from rural areas who might not have internet access? That's a genuine concern. Hope there are help centres or district officials assisting such families.
The breastfeeding awareness is great, but I wish the government would also address the lack of maternity leave for working mothers. Many women in private sector jobs struggle to exclusively breastfeed for six months. Policy changes like paid maternity leave and creche facilities would really help. 🤱
Proud to see our government recognising young talent in fields like environment and social service. My nephew is working on a plastic waste management project and I've told him to apply. The portal seems user-friendly. Also appreciate the clarity on eligibility criteria - makes it easier for parents.
Is the award open only to Indian citizens residing in India? What about children of NRIs who study in Indian schools abroad? The age criteria of 5-18 years seems fair. Would love to know more about the selection process and the weightage given to each field.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.