The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar celebrates exceptional achievements by children across seven fields: art and culture, bravery, innovation, science, social service, sports, and the environment.

On 26 December 2024, President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards, honouring the remarkable accomplishments of 17 young achievers from across India.

This year, the recipients included seven boys and 10 girls, recognised for their outstanding contributions to society and excellence in their respective fields. They hail from 14 States and Union Territories. Let’s meet the young heroes:

1. Keya Hatkar A disability advocate and author, Keya (14), who belongs to Maharashtra, was recognised for her contributions to art and culture. Despite living with spinal muscular atrophy, Keya founded initiatives such as ‘IM POSSIBLE’ and ‘SMA-ART’ to promote disability awareness.

2. Ayaan Sajad A Sufi singer from Kashmir, Ayaan (12) blends traditional Kashmiri music with modern elements. His viral song, Bedard Dadi Chane, a tribute to Sufi poet Shamas Fakeer, earned him widespread acclaim.

3. Vyas Om Jignesh Living with cerebral palsy, Gujarat’s Vyas (17) memorised over 5,000 Sanskrit slokas, earning recognition for his dedication to Sanskrit literature. He received the award in the art and culture category.

4. Saurav Kumar Nine-year-old Saurav, who hails from Bihar, displayed remarkable courage and presence of mind by saving three girls from drowning, earning him the award for bravery.

5. Karina Thapa Maharashtra’s Karina (17) demonstrated exceptional bravery by controlling a fire in her apartment building, preventing a potential explosion, and saving 70 families. Her bravery and selflessness in a life-threatening situation earned her the award.

6. Sindhoora Raja Tamil Nadu’s Sindhoora (15) developed self-stabilising devices to help Parkinson’s patients. Her groundbreaking invention, incorporating gyroscopes and accelerometers to counter hand tremors, enhances daily living and earned her the award.

7. Risheek Kumar Founder of Kashmir’s first cybersecurity firm, Risheek (17) was honoured for his entrepreneurial spirit and for launching the ‘Hack Free Bharat’ initiative.

8. Hembati Nag Chhattisgarh’s Hembati Nag (17) lost her parents as a baby, grew up in an orphanage, and overcame immense challenges in a Naxal-affected area to win a silver medal in judo at the Khelo India National Games.

9. Anish Sarkar At just three years and eight months old, Kolkata’s Anish became the world’s youngest FIDE-rated chess player with a rating of 1555. His rapid rise in the chess world highlights his extraordinary talent and dedication to the game.

10. Sanvi Sood Nine-year-old Sanvi Sood, who hails from Punjab, is the youngest Asian girl to summit Mount Kilimanjaro and the youngest Indian to reach Everest Base Camp. She was recognised for her incredible mountaineering achievements.

11. Janane Narayanan A Harikatha artist and Carnatic music student from Tamil Nadu, Jeya (14) has performed over 100 shows in Tamil, English, and Sanskrit.

12. Arav Bhardwaj A passionate cyclist from Delhi, Arav (12) embarked on long-distance expeditions to honour India’s heroes. From a 2,500 km journey promoting Netaji Bose's legacy to a 1,200 km ride commemorating Kargil Vijay Diwas, his efforts highlight unity and patriotism.

13. Sanchi Aggarwal Sanchi is an eight-year-old prodigy from Uttar Pradesh, excelling in Kathak, Shastri dance, and Sanskrit slokas. She holds two International Book of Records titles, including completing 80 rounds in one minute in semi-classical dance.

14. Kisen Wanniang Meghalaya’s Kisen (15) rescued four children, aged between nine and 12, from drowning in the Maweitksar River. His quick thinking in the critical situation earned him the award for bravery.

15. Preetismita Bhoi Preetismita (15), hailing from Odisha's Dhenkanal, set a world record at the 2024 IWF World Youth Championships by lifting a total of 133 kg to win gold and break the clean & jerk record. Her remarkable achievement earned her this prestigious award.

16. Jessy Raj Mathrapu Andhra Pradesh’s Jessy (14) excelled in artistic skating by winning gold at the World Skate Oceania Artistic Championship and dominating the 59th National Championships from 2021 to 2023, showcasing her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.

17. Goldi Kumari Despite losing her left hand in a train accident, Goldi (16), from Nalanda, Bihar, won a silver medal at the 13th Junior and Sub-Junior National Para Athletics Championship and gold in javelin and discus throw at state and national events.