Nari Shakti Puraskar is an esteemed award presented by the Government of India to recognize individuals and institutions dedicated to the empowerment of women. It is one of the highest civil honors given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) to women across India. The Indian government's objective behind the Nari Shakti Puraskar is to enhance the cause of women's empowerment.
The Nari Shakti Puraskar will be awarded in 2025 at a ceremony in New Delhi, officiated by the President of India, coinciding with International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8th. Recipients of the Nari Shakti Puraskar will receive a certificate and a monetary award of INR 2 lakhs.
Nari Shakti Puraskar Overview
- The MWCD awards the Nari Shakti Puraskar annually to individuals and institutions for their contributions to empowering women, particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalized.
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development announces the recipients of the Nari Shakti Puraskar by February 20th each year, with the awards being conferred on International Women’s Day (March 8th).
- A maximum of 15 awards may be given (to individuals and institutions), although this limit can be increased at the discretion of the selection committee.
- Each award carries a certificate and a cash prize of INR 2 lakhs.
- This award reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening the role of women in society.
- It provides an opportunity for young Indians to learn about women's contributions to the nation and society.
Nari Shakti Puraskar 2022 Winners List
| Name | State / UT | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Sathupati Prasanna Sree | Andhra Pradesh | Linguist – preserving minority tribal languages |
| Tage Rita Takhe | Arunachal Pradesh | Entrepreneur |
| Madhulika Ramteke | Chhattisgarh | Social Worker |
| Niranjanaben Mukulbhai Kalarthi | Gujarat | Author & Educationist |
| Pooja Sharma | Haryana | Farmer & Entrepreneur |
| Anshul Malhotra | Himachal Pradesh | Weaver |
| Shobha Gasti | Karnataka | Social Activist – Working to end the Devadasi system |
| Radhika Menon | Kerala | Captain Merchant Navy – First woman to receive award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea from IMO |
| Kamal Kumbhar | Maharashtra | Social Entrepreneur |
| Sruti Mohapatra | Odisha | Disability Rights Activist |
| Batool Begam | Rajasthan | Maand & Bhajan Folk Singer |
| Thara Rangaswamy | Tamil Nadu | Psychiatrist & Researcher |
| Neerja Madhav | Uttar Pradesh | Hindi Author – advocating for rights of transgenders and Tibetan refugees |
| Neena Gupta | West Bengal | Mathematician |
Nari Shakti Puraskar Winners for 2021 and 2020
Details of the Nari Shakti Puraskar winners for 2021 and 2020 can be found at the following link:
Nari Shakti Puraskar Winners List 2021 & 2020
Eligibility Criteria for Nari Shakti Puraskar
To qualify for the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the following eligibility criteria must be met:
- The awards are open to all individuals and institutions.
- For the individual category, the awardee’s age must be over 25 years as of July 1st of the award year.
- Institutions should have been active in the relevant field for more than five years.
- Applicants must not have received the same award in the past.
- The award recognizes individuals, institutions, groups, NGOs, etc., for their exemplary work in the economic and social empowerment of women, which includes:
- Encouraging women's participation in decision-making roles.
- Promoting skill development among women in both traditional and non-traditional sectors.
- Providing basic amenities for rural women.
- Advancing women in non-traditional fields such as science, technology, sports, and culture, while ensuring safety, health, education, skill development, and dignity.
- The award may also be granted to a State or Union Territory for efforts to improve the Child Sex Ratio (CSR).
- The award cannot be awarded posthumously.
Download National Award for Women Guidelines PDF
You can download the guidelines for the National Award for Women from the link below:
National Award for Women Guidelines PDF
Read: ICC Women’s World Cup Winners List 2022
