Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation Invites Nominations from Tamil Nadu for the 30th National Mahaveer Awards
Announcement posted by Catalyst PR 23 Jun 2026
Press Release
Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation Invites Nominations from Tamil Nadu for the 30th National Mahaveer Awards
- Awards honour human endeavour and excellence in the domains of Non-Violence & Vegetarianism, Education, Medicine, Community & Social service
- 101 Changemakers from 26 States and 2 Union Territories Recognised, with Tamil Nadu Accounting for 17 Awardees Among the Highest in the Country
- Former Chief Justice of India Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah Heads Eminent Jury
Chennai, June 2026:
Marking three decades of celebrating compassion, service and social impact, the Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation has invited nominations for the 30th edition of the prestigious National Mahaveer Awards 2027. Among India's most distinguished awards recognising selfless service by outstanding individuals and institutions whose work has transformed lives and communities in the fields of Non-Violence & Vegetarianism, Education, Medicine, and Community & Social Service. Each award carries a cash prize of ₹10 lakh, along with a citation and memento. Nominations are open until July 31, 2026.
Celebrating service beyond boundaries, the Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation has, over the past three decades and including the recently announced 29th edition, honoured 101 exceptional individuals and institutions from 26 States and 2 Union Territories. Tamil Nadu has been among the most prominent contributors to the National Mahaveer Awards, with 17 awardees from the State over the years—one of the highest representations in the country.
Indian citizens and institutions engaged in selfless service for the welfare of the needy, the underprivileged and the voiceless are eligible for nomination. The awardees will be selected by an eminent jury chaired by Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, former Chief Justice of India, ensuring a rigorous and credible evaluation process befitting the stature of the awards.
Jury for the Mahaveer Awards
- Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, Former Chief Justice of India - Chairman, Mahaveer Awards
- Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, Former Chief Justice of India
- S. Gurumurthy, Editor, Thuglak and Part-time Director, RBI
- Prof. B. M. Hegde, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mangalore Kendra
- T. S. Krishnamurthy, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India
- D. R. Mehta, Former Chairman, SEBI
- Prabhat Kumar, Former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India and Former Governor of Jharkhand
- Justice G. S. Singhvi, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India
- Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Director and Chancellor, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi
About the award:
Since 1995, Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation has been conferring the Mahaveer Awards on outstanding personalities and organisations across India in recognition of their excellence in the propagation of Non-Violence & Vegetarianism, Education, Medicine, and Community & Social Service. The awards have been presented by distinguished dignitaries including the President and Vice-President of India, Governors and Union Ministers, underscoring their national stature and significance. Nomination forms can be downloaded from: www.bmfawards.org
Annexure
Recipients of the National Mahaveer Awards from Tamil Nadu
1996 - Shri S. Jagannathan & Smt. Krishnammal Jagannathan, Gandhigram
1998 - Shri Avinashilingam Education Trust Institutions, Coimbatore
1999 - Dr. G. Venkataswamy, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai
2000 - Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai
2003 - Vivekananda Rock Memorial & Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari
2006 - Dr. S. S. Badrinath, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai
2008 - Amar Seva Sangam, Tirunelveli
2010 - Tribal Health Initiative, Dharmapuri
2011 - Voluntary Health Services, Chennai
2015 - Blue Cross of India, Chennai
2015 - Shri Sarada Ashram, Ulundurpet
2015 - Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam, Vedaranyam
2016 - Dr. R. V. Ramani, Sankara Eye Institutions, Coimbatore
2017 - AIM for Seva, Chennai
2018 - Dr. Shiranee Pereira, People for Animals, Chennai
2021 - Jeevodaya Hospice for Cancer Patients, Chennai
2025 - Association for Health Workers in the Nilgiris, Nilgiris