# Prime Minister National Talent Award

The Prime Minister National Talent Award (Nepali : प्रधानमन्त्री राष्ट्रिय प्रतिभा पुरस्कार) is a prestigious recognition conferred by the Government of Nepal to individuals who have made exceptional contributions in different fields. This award aims to acknowledge and encourage outstanding talents whose work has had a significant impact on their respective fields and the nation.

## Background

This award was established by the Cabinet in December 3, 2018 and is presented annually to two individuals chosen based on their remarkable achievements and contributions to the progress of Nepal. Each recipient is honored with a cash prize of NPR 500,000, the highest cash prize awarded by the government of Nepal.
The award fund was created with a $100,000 grant from the South Korean government, received by the then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and an additional $100,000 from the Nepal government. This fund ensures the continuity of the awards.

## First Edition of the Award

In 2019, the award was presented to three recipients. Notable Nepali ophthalmologist Dr. Sanduk Ruit, along with Radi Miya (Agricultural Innovation) and Bikalpa Dhungana (Inventions –Solar Scooter, Smart Traffic Mask), received this honor for the first time. Dr. Ruit was awarded NPR 5 lakh, while Radi Miya and Bikalpa Dhungana each received NPR 2.5 lakh.
After a five-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government announced the resumption of the award in 2025. To compensate for the missed years (2020–2024 AD), ten recipients were selected, with two individuals for each year.

## Eligibility Criteria

Nominees must be Nepali citizens with high moral character and no record of abuse of authority. Additionally, the individual should have made significant contributions in the fields of peace, good governance, professional proficiency, scientific inquiry, research, and nation-building. Furthermore, the candidate must have resided throughout Nepal, thereby greatly enhancing the nation’s international reputation by showcasing their talent on both national and international platforms.

## Selection Process

The application process is announced by the Prime Minister's Office, inviting nominations from both organizational and non-organizational entities. Applications are reviewed by the award committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office. Shortlisted candidates are then recommended by the Chief Secretary to the Cabinet, which makes the final decision on the award recipient.

## Recipients

* Sabitra Bhandari
* Purnima Shrestha
* Sanduk Ruit
List of award recipients :
| S.N | Awardee | Field | District | Year | Award amount | Remarks |
| 1. | Dr. Sanduk Ruit | Ophthalmology | Ilam | 2075(2019) | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for his pioneering work in ophthalmology and founding Tilganga EyeHospital. |
| 2. | Radi Miya | Agricultural innovation | Lamjung | 2075(2019) | NPR 250,000 | Awarded for his invention of advanced agricultural tools and technology. |
| 3. | Bikalpa Dhungana | Inventions (Solarscooter, Smart traffic mask) | Tanahun | 2075(2019) | NPR 250,000 | Awarded for his inventions,including a solar scooter and smart traffic mask. |
| 4. | Dr. ChhiringLama | Telemedicine | Sindhupalchowk | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for contributions in telemedicine. |
| 5. | Dr. Biraj Singh Thapa | Science & Technology | Morang | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for scientific and technological innovations. |
| 6. | Purnima Shrestha | Mountaineering | Gorkha | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for record-breaking mountaineeringachievements. |
| 7. | Abhash Maskey | Science & Technology | Kathmandu | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for contributions inscience and technology. |
| 8. | Hariram Shrestha | Science & Technology | Gorkha | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for contributions inscience and technology. |
| 9. | Dr. Om Murti Anil | Medical Sciences | Mahottari | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for his contributions for cardiac services, health awareness and world records. |
| 10. | Sabitra Bhandari | Sports | Lamjung | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for achievements in sports. |
| 11. | Rabindra Puri | HeritageConservation | Bhaktapur | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for contributions to heritage conservation. |
| 12. | Dil Shobha Shrestha | Humanitarian &Social Service | Kathmandu | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for social and humanitarian contributions. |
| 13. | Ramji Adhikari | Humanitarian &Social Service | Gorkha | 2025 | NPR 500,000 | Awarded for social andhumanitarian contributions. |