President Droupadi Murmu is set to confer the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on Monday, recognizing the outstanding achievements of 19 children, as stated in an official release. The recipients, comprising nine boys and ten girls, represent 18 states and Union Territories, including two aspirational districts.

The awards for 2024 will span six categories: art and culture (7), bravery (1), innovation (1), science and technology (1), social service (4), and sports (5). Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to engage with the awardees on Tuesday.

Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, along with Minister of State, Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, will also interact with the children during the event. The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is a government initiative designed to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of children aged 5 to 18 years. Each awardee will be bestowed with a medal and a certificate.

This year, the Ministry of Women and Child Development took proactive measures to boost nominations. Extensive advertising in regional and national newspapers was undertaken, and the National Award Portal allowed nominations from May 9 to September 15. The ministry made concerted efforts to publicize the awards at various levels, including Gram Panchayats and Municipalities.

To uphold the transparency and integrity of the selection process, Artificial Intelligence was deployed for data analysis over the past two years. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) played a role in recommending deserving candidates. Rigorous scrutiny, involving district magistrates and domain experts, was implemented to verify claims and maintain the integrity of the selection process.

A screening committee, comprised of experts in various fields such as social service, environment, science, technology, art and culture, and sports, meticulously examined the shortlisted profiles, as detailed in the official statement.

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