National Award For Senior Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Samman)

Key facts

Benefit	₹2,50,000 (one-time cash award)
Who	Senior citizens aged 70 and above
Implemented by	Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Official portal	nationalawards.gov.in
Application window	Annual window — confirm dates on the official portal

Benefits

Awardees receive a cash prize of ₹250,000, along with a citation and memento. The award is presented during a ceremony on October 1st each year.

Who can apply

Age 70+
not income tax payer
no government employee in family

Applicants must be senior citizens aged 70 or above, who are not income tax payers and do not have any government employees in their family. Nominations can be made by authorized individuals or agencies, but self-nominations are not accepted.

How to apply

Nominations for the award must be submitted through the National Awards Portal by authorized individuals or agencies.

Visit the National Awards Portal and click 'Register' to create an account.
Complete the registration form and submit it to receive login credentials.
Log in to the portal using your credentials.
Select 'Vayoshreshtha Samman - National Awards for Senior Citizens' from the awards list.
Fill out the online application form and submit it.

Apply on the official website ↗

Documents required

Aadhaar Card
Photograph
Bio-Data
Proof of Age
Proof of Address
Proof of Educational Qualification
Proof of Professional Experience
Details of work done in the last three years in the field
Details of Awards and Honours Received

Common problems and how to fix them

Problem	What to do
Application not submitted	Ensure all mandatory fields are filled in the online application form before submitting.
Nomination not accepted	Confirm that the nominee is recommended by an authorized individual or agency, as self-nominations are not allowed.

Frequently asked questions

Who can nominate candidates for the award?

Nominations can be made by authorized individuals or agencies, including government ministries, past award recipients, and recognized organizations.

What documents are required for the application?

Applicants must provide an Aadhaar card, photograph, bio-data, proof of age, proof of address, educational qualifications, professional experience, and details of work done in the last three years.

Is there a limit on the number of awards given?

Yes, a total of 15 awards are conferred each year, including both individual and institutional categories.

When is the award ceremony held?

The awards are presented on October 1st each year, coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons.

Can self-nominations be submitted?

No, self-nominations are not accepted; candidates must be nominated by an authorized individual or agency.

What is the age requirement for nominees?

Nominees must be at least 70 years old to be eligible for the award.

Always confirm the latest details on the official portal before applying.