The Sansad Ratna Awards were instituted in 2010 to recognize and felicitate the top-performing Members of Parliament (MPs) based on their work in the apex legislative body of India. The awards are based on the teachings of the former Indian President, APJ Abdul Kalam, who believed that Parliamentarians should be role models for the nation. The inaugural edition of these awards was launched by Kalam himself. Since then, 90 Parliamentarians have been felicitated with this prestigious award.
The Sansad Ratna Awards
The Sansad Ratna Awards are unique in their approach as they evaluate the performance of MPs based on their attendance, their participation in debates and discussions, their introduction of private member bills, and their questions and answers during Question Hour. The awardees are chosen by a jury comprising of eminent members of civil society and Parliamentarians. The criteria used for selection are based on the performance of MPs in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian Parliament) and the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Indian Parliament).
The awards aim
The awards aim to encourage MPs to actively participate in the proceedings of the House and to take up issues of national importance. It is also an effort to improve the image of Parliamentarians and to motivate them to work towards the welfare of the country. The awardees are not only recognized for their contribution in Parliament but are also expected to act as ambassadors for the cause of good governance.
The 13th edition of the Sansad Ratna
The 13th edition of the Sansad Ratna Award ceremony will be held on March 25, 2023, in New Delhi. The event will be attended by eminent personalities from various fields, including politics, academics, and civil society. The ceremony is expected to be a grand affair, with the awardees being felicitated by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries.
The Sansad Ratna Awards importance
The Sansad Ratna Awards have played a crucial role in promoting the culture of accountability and transparency in Parliament. The awards have encouraged MPs to take their role as elected representatives more seriously and to work towards fulfilling the aspirations of their constituents. The awards have also helped to improve the quality of debates and discussions in Parliament by incentivizing MPs to participate more actively in these proceedings.
The Sansad Ratna Awards have been instrumental in creating a sense of healthy competition among Parliamentarians, with each MP striving to outperform the others in terms of their work in Parliament. This has resulted in a marked improvement in the performance of MPs, with many of them taking up issues that were previously ignored or neglected. The awards have also helped to improve the perception of Parliamentarians among the general public, who have often been critical of their work in the past.
