National Youth Award

Department of Youth Affairs, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, confers the National Youth Awards (NYA) on individuals (aged between 15-29 years) and organizations for excellent work and contribution in different fields of development and social service such as health, promotion of human rights, active citizenship, community service etc.

Objective

The objective of the award is to motivate young persons to achieve excellence in the field of national development or social service and to develop in them a sense of responsibility to the community and thus to improve their own personal potential as good citizens.To give recognition to the outstanding work done by voluntary organizations working with the youth for national development and/or social service.

Desciption of Award

The award shall be given for identifiable excellent work for youth in the field of development activities and social service such as health, research and innovation, culture, promotion of human rights, arts and literature, tourism, traditional medicine, active citizenship, community service, sports and academic excellent, and smart learning.

Award details

• Award to Individual will comprise of medal, a certificate and Rs. 1 lakh cash. The individuals will receive the prizes in their traditional attire.
• Award to voluntary youth organizations will comprise of a medal, a certificate and Rs. 3 lakhs cash. 

No. of Awardees 

The number of awards given each year would ordinarily not exceed 20 for individual category and 5 for organization category. It may however, vary at the discretion of the sanctioning authority in deserving case.

Eligibility

1. For Individuals:

• He/She must be citizen of India.
• He/She should be between the ages of 15-29 years as on 1st January of a given year at the time of nomination.
• He/She should have done extra-ordinary identifiable social work.
• Persons employed in any government service i.e. with the Central/State Governments,PSUs/Universities,Colleges/schools etc. are not eligible for the award.
• The award will be conferred once in a lifetime.

2. For Voluntary Organizations:

• Should be registered under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860 (Act XXII of 1860) for the last three years or under corresponding State Act and have proper constitution or Articles of Association;
• Have a properly constituted managing body with its powers and duties clearly defined in its constitution;
• Be in a position to secure involvement on a voluntary basis, of knowledgeable persons for furtherance of its programmes;
• Should be non-profit organisation;
• Should not have discriminated against any person or group of persons on the ground of sex, religion, caste or creed;
• Have rendered extra-ordinary service involving the Youth in the relevant field for at least three years;
• Have a good reputation among the local community/area; and
• Should not have been conferred with this award earlier.

Who can nominate ?

• Universities / Colleges, local developmental departments, voluntary agencies, private bodies, public sector undertakings, Nehru Yuva Kendra, National Service Scheme, etc. and the individual himself can submit their recommendation to the State Government. Individual/organization can upload the recommendation obtained from the State Government on the National Awards portal.
• The Selection Committee will be vested with powers to select suo-moto any candidate for being considered for the award.
• Individuals or organizations may also apply directly to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports if their application is recommended by the Head of the Institution (School/College/ University)/Sub-Division Magistrate/District Magistrate/District Collector of the area/district or any officer not below the rank of Deputy Secretary in the Government of India.
• Nomination along with supporting documents must be sent in the prescribed format, either in Hindi or English only. Nominations received in other language will not be entertained.

Selection Process

• In the initial stage, the Screening Committee under the Chairmanship of Joint Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs will screen all the applications and propose the names of the awardees thrice the number of awards to be given.
• Central Selection Committee headed by Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India will scrutinize all the recommendations of the Screening Committee and make the final selection of the Youth Awards. The Central Selection Committee will also have powers to consider any other case based on the merits.

Source : National Awards Portal