The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 to distinguished nursing personnel on the occasion of International Nurses Day (12 May 2026) at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. While addressing the awardees, the President highlighted that nursing professionals exemplify the highest standards of service, compassion, dedication, and patient care, playing a pivotal role in delivering quality healthcare even under the most challenging circumstances.
The National Florence Nightingale Awards represent the highest national recognition conferred upon nursing professionals in India for their exceptional contribution to healthcare services. Instituted to acknowledge meritorious service rendered by nursing personnel, these awards underline the indispensable role of nurses in strengthening India's healthcare delivery system.During the ceremony, the President emphasized that quality healthcare cannot be achieved without a committed nursing workforce. Nursing personnel serve as the backbone of hospitals and public health institutions by ensuring continuous patient care, emergency response, maternal and child healthcare, disease management, and community outreach. Their contribution becomes particularly significant during health emergencies, disasters, pandemics, and in remote and underserved regions.The awards also reinforce the Government's commitment to recognizing healthcare professionals whose dedication often remains behind the scenes despite their immense contribution to public welfare. By honouring exemplary nurses from different healthcare settings, the awards encourage professional excellence, ethical conduct, leadership, and compassionate service across the nursing fraternity.The significance of these awards extends beyond individual recognition. They help promote higher standards in nursing education, motivate healthcare workers, enhance the prestige of the nursing profession, and contribute towards strengthening India's overall healthcare ecosystem.A notable example of such recognition was Maj. Gen. (Retd.) P.D. Sheena, who received the National Florence Nightingale Award 2025 after serving nearly four decades in the Military Nursing Service. During her distinguished career, she held several important leadership and administrative positions, including Principal of military nursing institutions and senior appointments at the Army Headquarters, demonstrating the diverse avenues through which nursing professionals contribute to national healthcare and defence services.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Award Name | National Florence Nightingale Awards |
| Instituted | 1973 |
| Instituted By | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India |
| Purpose | Recognition of meritorious services rendered by nursing personnel to society |
| Occasion of Presentation | International Nurses Day (12 May) |
| Presented By | President of India |
| Award Components | Certificate of Merit, Medal and Cash Prize |
| Cash Prize | ₹1,00,000 (as mentioned for the 2025 awards) |
International Nurses Day is observed every year on 12 May to commemorate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, regarded as the founder of modern nursing. The day recognizes the invaluable contribution of nurses towards public health, patient care, disease prevention, and healthcare delivery across the world.
Florence Nightingale earned the title "Lady with the Lamp" for her humanitarian work during the Crimean War (1853–1856), where she personally attended wounded soldiers during night rounds carrying a lamp. She is widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing due to her pioneering work in hospital administration, sanitation, nursing education, and evidence-based healthcare.
Established: 1976 (in its present form)Headquarters: Nirman Bhawan, New DelhiPresent Union Minister: Jagat Prakash Nadda
Updated – 12 May 2026; 01:28 PM | PIB | News Source –PIB Press ReleaseAdditional Reference –Updated – 31 May 2025; 08:31 PM | The Hindu | News Source –The Hindu Report