Nominations open for Sardar Patel National Unity Award (India)

Decoration

• The decoration shall be in the form of a lotus leaf, six centimeters in length, six and two centimeters at its greatest breadth and four millimeters in thickness. It shall be of fine silver and gold.
• On its obverse shall be embossed a replica of the lotus four and five centimeter circle and three-four of a centimeter in diameter with petals of lotus spreading out from sixteen petals and one-two of a centimeter the rope circle, and all sixteen petals attached/based with rope circle and inner circle a embossed photo of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel spreading out from one-six of a centimeter and between rope and circle of photo embossed the words SARDAR PATEL NATIONAL UNITY AWARD in Hindi.
• The portrait of Sardar Patel will be embossed upon a circular shaped gold metal with diameter of two centimeters. On the reverse shall be embossed the State Emblem and motto in Hindi. The Emblem, the lotus and the petals shall be of fine silver plated with gold. The inscription shall be of frosted gold.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any citizen of India without distinction of religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth, age or occupation and any institution/organization shall be eligible for the Award. Only individuals/institutions/organizations would be eligible to apply for this Award.
• The candidate for the Award should have made outstanding efforts and notable contribution to promote and further the cause of national unity and integrity in a manner that may serve as an inspiration to others, and reinforce the value of a strong and united India.

Who can nominate?

• Any Indian national or institution or organization based in India can nominate an individual or institution or organization for consideration for this Award.
• Individuals can also nominate themselves.
• The recommendations for the award may also be invited from the State Governments/UT Administrations and Ministries/Departments of the Government of India who shall send their recommendations online.

Selection Criteria

• A Screening Committee will be constituted in the Ministry of Home Affairs under the chairmanship of Special Secretary/Additional Secretary, with two Joint Secretaries as Members.
• The Screening Committee shall process the applications for eligibility and completeness and prepare a brief of profile on each nomination. It may also verify the authencity of work claimed to have been done by the candidates. The Committee shall also identify or search for other deserving candidates for the award.
• The Screening Committee shall place the applications, processed above, before the Award Committee.
• Candidates selected for the Award would be subjected to verification by the investigating agenciues of the Givernment with a view to ensuring that their character/ antecedents are above board.

For more information, visit Ministry of Home Affairs.