Veer Bal Diwas is annually observed across India on 26th December to honor the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas – the four sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Sikh Guru, who sacrificed their lives in the 17th century.
- 2025 marks the 4th observance of Veer Bal Diwas.
Exam Hints:
- What? Veer Bal Diwas 2025
- When? 26 December 2025
- 2025 Observance: 4th
- Occasion: To honor the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas, the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji
- 1st Observance: 26th December 2022
- Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD)
- 2025 Event: National-level observance at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Participants: PM Narendra Modi, Union Minister Annpurna Devi, MoWCD
- PMRBP 2025: Presented by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, to 20 children from 18 States and UTs
Background:
Declaration: On 9th January 2022, during the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced that 26th December would be celebrated as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’.
1st Observance: The first-ever Veer Bal Diwas was observed on 26th December 2022.
About Guru Gobind Singh Ji & the Sahibzade:
Leadership: Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikh leader in Punjab during the Mughal period, had four sons collectively known as the four Sahibzade of the Khalsa: Sahibzada Ajit Singh (1687–1705), Sahibzada Jujhar Singh (1691–1705), Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (1696–1705), and Sahibzada Fateh Singh (1699–1705).
Khalsa: In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa, a reformed and purified Sikh community.
Martyrdom: All four Sahibzade were martyred by Mughal forces before turning 19, after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb laid siege to Anandpur, and the Guru surrendered the fort to safeguard his people.
Tragedy: The youngest sons, Zorawar and Fateh, were seized by the Mughals and buried alive at the ages of 8 and 5.
2025 Event:
Event: On December 26, 2025, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), observed Veer Bal Diwas at the national level to commemorate the courage, sacrifice, and exemplary values of India’s young heroes at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (Delhi).
Participants: Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Union Minister Annpurna Devi, MoWCD, were participated at the event.
Presentation of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar(PMRBP) 2025: During the event, President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred the PMRBP 2025 on 20 children from 18 States and Union Territories (UTs) in recognition of their outstanding achievements in diverse fields.
Notable awardee: Bihar’s teenage batting prodigy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, has been honoured with the PMRBP, India’s highest civilian award for children, following his stellar performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the age of 14.
List of PMRBP 2025 Awardees:
| Category | Name & Place | About the Awardees |
|---|---|---|
| Bravery | Vyoma Priya (Posthumous) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (TN) | She sacrificed her life trying to save a six-year-old child in an electrical accident, showing remarkable courage. |
| Kamlesh Kumar (Posthumous) Kaimur, Bihar | He lost his life while bravely attempting to rescue a child from drowning. | |
| Muhammed Sidan P Palakkad, Kerala | He fearlessly tried to save two friends from electrocution, placing their lives above his own. | |
| Ajay Raj Agra, Uttar Pradesh(UP) | He bravely saved his father from a crocodile attack near their village river. | |
| Art and Culture | Esther Lalduhawmi Hnamte Lunglei, Mizoram | She moved millions nationwide with her soulful patriotic songs, inspiring national pride. |
| Suman Sarkar Nadia, West Bengal(WB) | A talented tabla prodigy whose exceptional skill has brought him global recognition and acclaim. | |
| Environment | Pooja Barabanki, UP | Motivated by environmental concern, she developed an innovative machine to curb agricultural dust and air pollution. |
| Social Service | Shvan Singh Ferozepur, Punjab | He showed exceptional courage during Operation Sindoor by undertaking risky supply missions to support frontline soldiers. |
| Vansh Tayal Chandigarh | Despite early hardships, he dedicated his life to rehabilitating children, including those with special needs. | |
| Science and Technology | Aishi Prisha Borah Jorhat, Assam | Driven by sustainability, she advocates eco-friendly practices like natural farming and innovative mulching techniques. |
| Arnav Anupriya Maharshi Aurangabad, Maharashtra | A young divyang innovator who developed an Artificial intelligence (AI) -based rehabilitation tool for hand paralysis. | |
| Sports | Shivani Hosuru Uppara Annamayya, Andhra Pradesh(AP) | A determined divyang para-athlete who has brought pride to the nation through her achievements in shot put and javelin. |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Samastipur, Bihar | A cricket sensation whose record-breaking performances have made him the youngest Indian Premier League(IPL) player and fastest Indian centurion in the league. | |
| Yogita Mandavi Kondagaon, Chattisgarh | Rising from a naxal-affected region, she overcame immense challenges to become a national-level Khelo India judoka. | |
| Vaka Lakshmi Pragnika Surat, Gujarat | A young chess prodigy who stunned the world by becoming Under-7 World Champion with a flawless 9/9 score. | |
| Jyoti Sirsa, Haryana | An inspiring international para-athlete whose medal-winning performances reflect resilience, strength, and determination. | |
| Anushka Kumari Ranchi, Jharkhand | One of only five girls from Jharkhand selected for the Indian Under-17 Women’s Football Team, known for her consistent goal-scoring ability. | |
| Dhinidhi Desinghu Bengaluru, Karnataka | A promising swimmer who has made India proud on the global stage and became one of the youngest Indians to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics. | |
| Jyoshna Sabar Gajapati, Odisha | A powerful young weightlifter who set a Youth Asian record and continues to bring international medals home for India. | |
| Vishwanath Karthikey Padakanti Medchal-Malkajgiri, Telangana | A fearless mountaineer who conquered the world’s highest peaks, becoming the youngest to complete the Seven Summits Challenge. |
About Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar(PMRBP):
Overview: It is an annual national award administered by the MoWCD and presented by the President of India to recognize children aged 5–18 years for their exceptional achievements in fields such as Bravery, Social Service, Environment, Sports, Art and Culture, and Science & Technology.
- It was first awarded in 1996.
Nomination & Selection: The PMRBP Committee, constituted by the MoWCD and chaired by Anil Malik, Secretary, MoWCD, selects the awardees, with domain experts serving as members.
Number of Awards: Up to 25 awards are given each year, with exceptions allowed by the PMRBP Committee.
Prize Details: Each awardee is presented with a medal, a citation, and a certificate.
About Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD):
Union Minister– Annpurna Devi (Constituency- Kodarma, Jharkhand)
Minister of State (MoS)– Savitri Thakur (Constituency- Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
