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 yearsone 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

Media Contact: Samta Lakhani, Coordinator, Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation @ +91 99623 40367.

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