New Delhi, May 12: In a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, President Droupadi Murmu honoured 15 exceptional nursing professionals with the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026on the occasion of International Nurses Day. Union Health Minister JP Nadda was also present.
Instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the awards recognize the dedication, compassion, and resiliency that define the nursing profession.
The 2026 awardees are:
The award is open to registered nurses, midwives, auxiliary nurse midwives, and lady health visitors working across the Central and state governments, union territories, and voluntary organisations. Each recipient receives a certificate of merit, a medal, and a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000as a token of the nation’s appreciation for their invaluable service.
International Nurses Day, celebrated annually, honours the critical role nurses play in hospitals, clinics, emergency services, and community healthcare worldwide. It also commemorates the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing.
This year’s theme —“Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives”— underscores the need to support nurses through safer working conditions, career opportunities, and stronger institutional backing. The campaign highlights that healthcare outcomes improve when nurses have fair salaries, adequate staffing, leadership roles, and access to quality education and training.
