In May 2025, the President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2025 to 15 outstanding nursing professionals at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi, recognising their exceptional service and dedication in strengthening public healthcare delivery across India.
Key People:
The ceremony took place in the presence of Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Minister of State (MoS) Prataprao Jadhav, MoHFW and MoS Anupriya Patel, MoHFW.
About the National Florence Nightingale Awards:
i.The National Florence Nightingale Awards, instituted by the MoHFW, Government of India (GoI) in 1973, honor the dedication and service of nursing professionals.
ii.These awards are given annually to Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), and Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) from various States, Union Territories (UTs), and voluntary organizations.
iii.Each awardee receives a Certificate of Merit, a medal, and a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000 as a token of national appreciation.
National Florence Nightingale Awards 2025:
The 15 awardees represent diverse states and healthcare sectors:
- ANMs from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh (AP), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DNHDD), Lakshadweep, and Maharashtra.
- LHVs from Assam.
- Registered Nurses from Arunachal Pradesh (AR), Delhi, Karnataka, Manipur, Mizoram, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu (TN), and West Bengal (WB).
List of Awardees – National Florence Nightingale Awards 2025:
| S.No. | Category | Name | State/UT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) | Reba Rani Sarkar | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| 2 | ANM | Valiveti Subhavathi | Andhra Pradesh (AP) |
| 3 | ANM | Saroj Fakirbhai Patel | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DNHDD) |
| 4 | ANM | Raziya Beegum P B | Lakshadweep |
| 5 | ANM | Sujata Ashok Bagul | Maharashtra |
| 6 | Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) | Bina Pani Deka | Assam |
| 7 | Nurse | Kijum Sora Karga | Arunachal Pradesh (AR) |
| 8 | Nurse | Dimple Arora | Delhi |
| 9 | Nurse | Maj Gen Sheena P D | Delhi |
| 10 | Nurse | Dr. Banu M R | Karnataka |
| 11 | Nurse | Leimapokpam Ranjita Devi | Manipur |
| 12 | Nurse | V Lalhmangaihi | Mizoram |
| 13 | Nurse | L S Manimozhi | Puducherry |
| 14 | Nurse | Alamelu Mangayarkarasi K | Tamil Nadu (TN) |
| 15 | Nurse | Doli Biswas | West Bengal (WB) |
Government Initiatives to Strengthen the Nursing Sector:
The Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, has taken key steps to strengthen the nursing sector, including:
- National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023: Aims to modernise nursing education and improve regulatory frameworks.
- Establishment of 157 Nursing Colleges: Co-located with medical colleges across India to create a skilled and competent nursing workforce.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Union Minister – Jagat Prakash Nadda (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Ministers of State (MoS)– Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav (Constituency – Buldhana, Maharashtra); and Anupriya Patel (Constituency – Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
