President Droupadi Murmu is set to bestow the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar-2024 (PMRBP) upon 19 outstanding children during an award ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan on January 22, according to a press release from the Ministry of Women and Child Development on Friday.
The official statement also indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will engage with the recipients of the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on January 23. Women and Child Development Minister, Smriti Zubin Irani, and Minister of State Munjpara Mahendrabhai will join the ceremony to interact with the children, commending their remarkable accomplishments across various categories.
The PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar-2024 will be presented to 19 children hailing from different regions of the country, recognized for their outstanding achievements in Art and Culture (7), Bravery (1), Innovation (1), Science & Technology (1), Social Service (4), and Sports (5), as outlined in the press release. Among the awardees, 9 are boys and 10 are girls, representing 18 states and UTs, including two aspirational districts, the release further highlighted.
The PMRBP, a prestigious award from the government of India, is conferred upon children aged 5-18 years for their exceptional accomplishments in seven categories: Art & Culture, Bravery, Environment, Innovation, Science & Technology, Social Service, and Sports. Each recipient receives a medal and a certificate.
This year, the Ministry of Women and Child Development took special measures to boost nominations, advertising in regional and national newspapers. The National Award Portal accepted nominations for an extended period from May 9, 2023, to September 15, 2023.
Utilizing Artificial Intelligence for data gathering over the past two years, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was also involved in recommending deserving candidates. The integrity of claims underwent rigorous verification through multiple layers, including District Magistrates and domain experts. The screening committee, comprised of experts in various disciplines, further scrutinized shortlisted profiles.
Profiles that made it through the screening committee underwent examination by National Level Independent Experts from diverse domains, including Sangeet Natak Akademi, Central Reserve Police Force, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Indian Space Research Organization, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Indian Institute of Public Administration, and Sports Authority of India. The final selection was made by the National Selection Committee.