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 CountryFormer Chief Justice of India Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah Heads Eminent JuryChennai, 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 AwardsJustice M. N. Venkatachaliah, Former Chief Justice of India – Chairman, Mahaveer AwardsJustice D. Y. Chandrachud, Former Chief Justice of IndiaS. Gurumurthy, Editor, Thuglak and Part-time Director, RBIProf. B. M. Hegde, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mangalore KendraT. S. Krishnamurthy, Former Chief Election Commissioner of IndiaD. R. Mehta, Former Chairman, SEBIPrabhat Kumar, Former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India and Former Governor of JharkhandJustice G. S. Singhvi, Former Judge, Supreme Court of IndiaDr. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Director and Chancellor, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New DelhiAbout 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.orgMedia Contact: Samta Lakhani, Coordinator, Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation @ +91 99623 40367.AnnexureRecipients of the National Mahaveer Awards from Tamil Nadu 1996 – Shri S. Jagannathan & Smt. Krishnammal Jagannathan, Gandhigram1998 – Shri Avinashilingam Education Trust Institutions, Coimbatore1999 – Dr. G. Venkataswamy, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai2000 – Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai2003 – Vivekananda Rock Memorial & Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari2006 – Dr. S. S. Badrinath, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai2008 – Amar Seva Sangam, Tirunelveli2010 – Tribal Health Initiative, Dharmapuri2011 – Voluntary Health Services, Chennai2015 – Blue Cross of India, Chennai2015 – Shri Sarada Ashram, Ulundurpet2015 – Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam, Vedaranyam2016 – Dr. R. V. Ramani, Sankara Eye Institutions, Coimbatore2017 – AIM for Seva, Chennai2018 – Dr. Shiranee Pereira, People for Animals, Chennai2021 – Jeevodaya Hospice for Cancer Patients, Chennai2025 – Association for Health Workers in the Nilgiris, Nilgiris