Centre Invites Nominations for National Awards Honouring Persons with Disabilities

The Commissioner for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons invited nominations for the Union Social Justice Ministry's National Awards honouring outstanding individuals with disabilities and organisations working for their empowerment, across categories including Best Person with Disabilities, Best Employer, Best Placement Agency and Best State/District for accessibility initiatives. Applications must be submitted at www.awards.gov.in by July 31, 2026.

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linkDirectorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Chennai

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PRESS RELEASE

Persons and institutions rendering outstanding service at the national level for the welfare of persons with disabilities will be selected and honoured with the following National Awards by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities).

I. National Awards for Individual Excellence

1. The Best Person with Disabilities (belonging to any field/activity such as Education, Health, Employment, Art & Culture, Sports, Creative work, Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Social service, etc. – a Role Model) – 6 Awards (3 Male, 3 Female).
2. Best Person with Disabilities: (a) Locomotor Disability, (b) Visual Impairment, (c) Hearing Impairment, (d) Intellectual Disability, (e) Any other specified disability – 10 Awards (1 Male and 1 Female in each category A to E).
3. Best Boy/Girl with Disabilities (children up to 18 years, in art & culture, drawing, painting, music or other creative work) – 2 Awards (1 Male, 1 Female).
4. Best Individual working for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (NGO) – 1 Award.
5. Best Rehabilitation Professional working in the field of Persons with Disabilities – 1 Award.
6. Best Research/Innovation/Product Development in the field of Empowering Persons with Disabilities – 3 Awards.

II. National Awards for Institutions engaged in empowering persons with disabilities

1. Best Institution working for PwDs (Private organisation/NGO) – 1 Award for comprehensive rehabilitation services; 1 Award for inclusive education.
2. Best Employer for providing job opportunities to PwDs (Government organisation/PSU/Autonomous body/Private sector) – 1 Award.
3. Best Placement Agency for PwDs (excluding Government/State Government/Local Bodies) – 1 Award.
4. Best State/UT/District for implementing the Accessible India Campaign/creating a barrier-free environment – 1 Award.
5. Best Accessible Transport Corporation/Information & Communication Technology (Government/Private organisation) – 1 Award.
6. Best State/UT/District in implementing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act/UDID and other schemes for empowerment of PwDs – 2 Awards (1 for State/UT, 1 for District).
7. Best State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (for performance in implementing the RPwD Act, 2016) – 1 Award.
8. Best Organisation Training Rehabilitation Professionals – 1 Award.
9. Best Public Sector Undertaking/Private Sector Company (contributing to empowerment of persons with disabilities through CSR) – 1 Award.

Persons/institutions wishing to apply under the above categories may find details at www.depwd.gov.in. Applicants are requested to submit applications directly at www.awards.gov.in on or before 31.07.2026.

Commissioner for the Welfare of the Disabled

Issued By: - DIPR, Secretariat, Chennai – 9

Issued By: Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Chennai