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President Murmu Honours Nursing Heroes with Florence Nightingale Awards

President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 to nursing personnel at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, marking International Nurses Day. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda attended the ceremony honoring exceptional nursing professionals from across India. The awardees include 15 nurses from various states and Union Territories, including Sub Inspector Kulwinder Parhi and Maj Gen Lissamma P.V. from the Indian Army. Each award comes with a Certificate of Merit, Rs 1,00,000 cash prize, and a medal recognizing their invaluable service.

Key Points: Prez Murmu Presents National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026

  • President Murmu presents awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan
  • Union Minister J.P. Nadda also present
  • 15 awardees from across India, including Army's Maj Gen Lissamma P.V.
  • Each award includes Rs 1,00,000 cash prize and medal
2 min read

Prez Murmu honours nursing personnel with National Florence Nightingale Awards

President Droupadi Murmu honors nursing personnel with National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on International Nurses Day.

"Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives - Campaign Theme"

New Delhi, May 12

President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 to nursing personnel at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, marking International Nurses Day to honour exceptional nursing professionals in India.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda was also present during the occasion.

The National Florence Nightingale Award, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, honours the dedication, compassion, and resilience that define the nursing profession.

The awardees include Sub Inspector Kulwinder Parhi from Leh, Ujwala Mahadev Soyam from Maharashtra, Lalenthangi Hnamte from Mizoram, Madhu Mala Gurung from Sikkim, Pooka Parmar Rana from Uttarakhand, Gita Karmakar from West Bengal, Poonam Verma from Chandigarh, Deepa Biju from Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Sharwan Kumar Dhaka from Delhi, Raksha Rupo Parvatkar from Goa, Kabitha Jagannath from Karnataka, Manjumol V.S. from Kerala, Aysha Beebu K. from Lakshadweep, Dr R. Shankar Shanumugam from Tamil Nadu and Maj Gen Lissamma P.V. from Indian Army.

These prestigious awards are presented to Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and Lady Health Visitors serving across Central and State Governments, Union Territories, and voluntary organisations.

Each award includes a Certificate of Merit, a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000, and a medal symbolising the nation's gratitude for the invaluable service rendered by these health warriors.

International Nurses Day is observed every year to honour the vital role nurses play in hospitals, clinics, emergency departments and community healthcare systems around the world. The date commemorates the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, whose contributions laid the foundation for modern nursing practices worldwide.

This year's theme, 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives' highlights the importance of supporting nurses through safer working conditions, better opportunities and stronger institutional backing to improve healthcare outcomes.

According to the campaign message, healthcare services improve when nurses receive fair salaries, adequate staffing support, leadership opportunities and access to quality education and training.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Arjun K
Good initiative, but I hope the government also focuses on improving working conditions for all nurses, not just the awardees. Staff shortages and low salaries are still major issues in many states. The theme 'Empowered Nurses Save Lives' is spot on—fair pay and safer environments matter more than ceremonies.
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Michael C
As someone who works in healthcare policy in the UK, I can say that India's recognition of nurses on International Nurses Day is a positive step. The diverse list of awardees from Leh to Lakshadweep shows inclusive representation. Florence Nightingale would be proud. 🌍
K
Kavya N
So happy to see a nurse from my state (Kerala) — Manjumol V.S. — get this award! During COVID, nurses in Kerala worked day and night despite risks. But respect must go beyond ceremonies. We need better nurse-to-patient ratios and mental health support. Still, this is a wonderful tribute! 🙏
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Siddharth J
One awardee is from the Indian Army—Maj Gen Lissamma P.V. That's fantastic! Nursing in defense forces is extremely tough. They serve in field hospitals, conflict zones, and remote areas with limited resources. Hope the cash prize helps them in some way. Also, good to see President Murmu herself presenting. ✨
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Rohit P
Nice gesture, but let's be real—nurses in rural India are still underpaid and overworked. My cousin works in a district hospital in Uttar Pradesh and she handles 50+ patients per shift with no support. Awards are good for motivation, but systemic change is urgently needed. Still, congrats to all awardees!

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