Location Tamil Nadu First awarded 2015 | Country India | |
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Date August 15, 2015 (2015-08-15) Presented by Government of Tamil Nadu Reward(s) Scientific development, humanities and students' welfare | ||
The Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award, named after the 11th President of India and aerospace scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, is awarded by the Government of Tamil Nadu in recognition of contributions on scientific development, humanities and students' welfare.
On 31 July 2015, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa announced after the death of Kalam (July 27, 2015) that an award will be given annually in his name. The award prize will be five hundred thousand Indian rupees (about US$7,700), a certificate and a gold medal weighing eight grams. The Chief Minister stated "Vibrant India; Prosperous Tamil Nadu. To strengthen this, I have ordered to institute an award in memory of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The award will be given away every year during Independence Day. It will carry a cash prize of ₹ 5 lakh, a gold medal weighing eight gram and a certificate." In addition, the Government of Tamil Nadu would commemorate his birthday each year as "Youth Awakening Day", on October 15. He was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu on 15 October 1931.
The award was scheduled to be given out every year on Independence Day in India (15 August) starting with 2015. The first award was given to the Program Director of the Microwave Remote Sensing Program and scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation, N. Valarmathi, on the 69th Independence Day of India, 15 August 2015.
Since 2008, the National Innovation Foundation, a body of the Department of Science and Technology celebrates Children's Creativity and Innovation Day each year with "Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE awards" in his name.