President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 to 15 nursing professionals, celebrating their unwavering dedication to public health delivery and community welfare on International Nurses Day.
In a prestigious ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the year 2026. This annual event serves as a platform to recognize the exceptional service and unwavering dedication of nursing professionals who form the backbone of the nation's healthcare system. A total of 15 nurses, representing a diverse array of regions and healthcare environments, were honored for their exemplary commitment to strengthening public health delivery and their outstanding contributions to community welfare.
The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, and the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav. Their presence underscored the government's recognition of the nursing profession's vital role in national progress. In a message delivered during the occasion, President Droupadi Murmu noted that nursing personnel exemplify the highest standards of service. She highlighted that these professionals play a crucial role in delivering quality healthcare, often operating under the most challenging and demanding circumstances to ensure the well-being of the citizenry.
The National Florence Nightingale Award, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is designed to honor the dedication, compassion, and resilience that define the nursing profession. The 2026 cohort of awardees includes Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM), and Lady Health Visitors. These professionals serve across various sectors, including Central and State Governments, Union Territories, and voluntary organizations. Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, a medal symbolizing the nation's gratitude, and a cash prize of 
rupees.
The 15 awardees for the year 2026 are listed below, categorized by their professional roles and regions:
Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM) Category:
Kulwinder Parhi – Ladakh (Union Territory)
Ujwala Mahadev Soyam – Maharashtra
Lalenthangi Hnamte – Mizoram
Madhu Mala Gurung – Sikkim
Pooja Parmar Rana – Uttarakhand
Gita Karmakar – West Bengal
Nurse Category:
7. Poonam Verma – Chandigarh (Union Territory)
8. Deepa Biju – Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (UTs)
9. Sharwan Kumar Dhaka – Delhi
10. Raksha Rupo Parvatkar – Goa
11. Kavitha Jagannath – Karnataka
12. Manju Mol V S – Keralam
13. Aysha Beebi K – Lakshadweep (Union Territory)
14. R Shankar Shanmugam – Tamil Nadu
15. Major Gen Lissamma P V – IHQ of MoD (Army), Delhi
These individuals represent the geographic and functional breadth of Indian healthcare, from the high-altitude regions of Ladakh to the coastal stretches of Goa and Kerala, and from grassroots community health work to high-level military nursing services.
The awards coincided with International Nurses Day, which this year carried the theme: "Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives." Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda addressed the gathering, echoing this theme and emphasizing that nurses are the drivers of national progress. He remarked that by investing in the well-being of nursing professionals, the nation builds healthier communities and more thriving societies. The government's focus remains on cherishing, safeguarding, and uplifting those who provide selfless care to the population.
Nursing is recognized as having a pivotal role in addressing multiple health challenges and responding to the complex health needs of individuals and communities. Within their scope of practice, nurses are tasked with providing evidence-based, accessible, and appropriate care. Beyond clinical duties, their role as patient advocates is essential. Utilizing scientific reasoning skills and providing a wide spectrum of care across the continuum of health, nurses are ideally positioned to lead and inform healthcare service decision-making and policy development. Because they are the healthcare providers closest to the patients, they bring the vital voice of the patient to the policy table.
Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Government of India has initiated transformative measures to modernize the nursing sector. Recognizing that a skilled and empowered nursing workforce is fundamental to improved health outcomes, several key legislative and infrastructure projects have been undertaken. Central to these efforts is the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, which aims to overhaul the regulatory framework and elevate the standards of nursing education across the country.
Furthermore, the government has moved to establish 157 new nursing colleges. These institutions are strategically co-located with existing medical colleges to facilitate integrated learning and maximize resource efficiency. This expansion of training capacity is a direct response to the need for a more robust nursing workforce capable of handling modern healthcare demands. By focusing on competence and empowerment, these initiatives aim to ensure that the dedication shown by the Florence Nightingale awardees becomes the standard for the next generation of nursing professionals in India.
Through these awards and policy interventions, the nation acknowledges that the resilience and compassion of its nurses are indispensable to the goal of achieving a comprehensive and inclusive healthcare delivery system.
