NEW DELHI — President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Awards for the year 2026 to 15 distinguished nursing professionals. The high-profile investiture ceremony took place on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The ceremony coincided with International Nurses Day, a global celebration marking the profound contributions of the nursing fraternity.
Each selected awardee received a formal Certificate of Merit, a commemorative medal, and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, symbolising the country’s collective gratitude for their tireless service, empathy, and administrative resilience in diverse healthcare settings. The event was graced by high-ranking central leadership, including Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav.
Executive Praise for Essential Health Pillars
In her address during the presentation, President Murmu lauded the unique role that nursing staff occupy within the structural architecture of the nation’s public healthcare grid. She remarked that nursing personnel exemplify the absolute highest standards of human service, playing a vital part in the execution of quality medical treatment under highly demanding conditions. The President highlighted that these individuals frequently operate in geographical silos or high-stress environments where infrastructure is scarce, yet they continue to deliver medical support with total focus.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare originally instituted the National Florence Nightingale Awards in 1973. Over more than five decades, the framework has evolved into the highest national honor accessible to Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), registered nurses, specialized nursing officers, and academic nursing educators. Candidates are scrutinized across rigorous national parameters before selection, ensuring that those operating at the absolute grass-roots level are adequately recognized alongside tertiary care administrators.
Highlighting Exceptional Regional and Frontline Contributions
The 2026 cohort of awardees featured distinct healthcare workers whose stories of operational excellence captivated the selection panels. Among the highly noted recipients was Aysha Beebi K, a dedicated nursing professional from the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. She was specifically selected for her extraordinary courage and quick decision-making during a critical midnight emergency delivery on a isolated island, preventing potential maternal and neonatal mortality in an area completely cut off from major mainland multi-specialty hospitals.
Similarly, the award recognized Kulwinder Parhi, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife from the high-altitude region of Ladakh. Parhi has spent nearly three decades traveling on foot across challenging, snow-bound terrains to administer mandatory pediatric immunizations, pre-natal counsel, and emergency first-aid to rural tribal populations. From urban healthcare complexes, Dr. Sharwan Kumar Dhaka of Delhi was commended for his large-scale leadership in executing targeted vaccination outreach programs and public health campaigns within vulnerable communities.
Military Nursing Excellence and Systemic Visions
The armed forces’ healthcare arm was also spotlighted during the investiture. Major General Lissamma P.V., the Additional Director General of the Military Nursing Service (MNS), received the award directly from the President for her long-standing contributions to institutional defense medical practices, standardizing trauma nursing protocols, and enhancing strategic healthcare operations across army forward bases.
Reflecting on the overarching vision for the sector, Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda noted that the 2026 international theme—’Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives’—underscores the need for structural financial investment in the nursing cadre. He emphasized that supporting the holistic well-being, educational development, and physical safety of nurses directly results in the creation of highly resilient, thriving national communities. The ministry reaffirmed its long-term plan to augment nursing training institutions, introduce advanced practice specializations, and resolve local administrative gaps to safeguard the career progression of frontline medical heroes.
