National Sustainability Awards, 2026

The 15 Prestigious IISD-CMI National Sustainability Awards, 2026 are to be presented By the Hon’ble Chief Guest, on 23rd and 24th July 2026 to recognize and honor Individuals & Organizations for their Outstanding Contributions toward leading India on the Path of Sustainability and Decarbonization. These Awards are to be decided by an Esteemed Jury Panel, where if the Deserving Nomination will not be received, in few Award areas, those Awards will not be Considered.

Esteemed Jury Panel

Hon'ble Chief Jury

Justice Shri. Sudhir Agarwal, is the Judicial Member in National Green Tribunal (NBT), New Delhi. He served as Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. During his tenure as High Court Judge, he has decided and delivered judgment in more than 1,40,000 cases in almost every jurisdiction, be it civil, criminal, service, constitution, rent, tax, environment etc.

Hon’ble Justice Shri Sudhir Agarwal

Former Judicial Member, National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi

Shri Shalabh Tandon is the Regional Head of Operations and in charge of IFC’s Climate Business in South Asia. He has over 20 years of experience as an investment and development banking professional covering a range of industries including power, renewables, telecom and IT, oil & gas, healthcare, education, transport, water & utilities, agri-business and other infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.

Shri Shalabh Tandon

South Asia Regional Head
International Finance Corporation (IFC), The World Bank Group

Dr. Satyabhusan Dash is a Professor of Marketing Management area and Chairperson, Centre for Marketing in Emerging Economies at Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. He is currently holding ‘Ishwar Dayal Chair Professor for Research in Futuristic Behavioral Issues’ at IIM Lucknow.

Dr. Satyabhusan Dash

Professor,
Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow

Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi is an Indian judge who is currently serving as a Member of National Human Rights Commission of India. He is a former Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court and a former Judge of Orissa High Court.

Justice B.R.Sarangi

Member,
National Human Rights Commission,
Government of India

Dr. Niru Kumar is an Indian social activist. In 2020, she was chosen as one of the national icons of the Election Commission of India and in 2021, she was awarded Padma Shri by the Indian Government for her contribution in social work.

Padma Shri Dr. Niru Kumar

CEO, Ask Insights

Shri Surjit Bhujabal I.R.S is the Principal Director General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. Chairman of Group on Inter Governmental Online Training for ‘Wildlife Protection & Role of Customs’ under Mission Karmayogi. ‘Jury’ Member for Earth Heroes Awards- 2012 to 2020.

Shri Surjit Bhujabal, IRS

Former, Principal Director General, CBIC,
Government of India

21-feb-2026

NOMINATION START DATE

10-july-2026

NOMINATION END DATE

24-july-2026

AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT DATE

*by Midnight (11:59 PM)

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Nomination Categories

1 IISD-CMI National Award for Extra Ordinary Lifetime Contribution for Sustainability

This lifetime contribution award is the most powerful, prestigious and coveted National Award, amongst all. The person or the institute, who will receive this prestigious award has to be exceptionally outstanding in his/ her/it’s contribution to various facets of sustainability and the promotion of sustainable development in India. The minimum eligibility condition is to have at least 45 to 50 years of lifetime unbeatable historic contribution, in pushing the sustainability agenda; either in Knowledge, or Action domain. The contributions must be having tall footprints, of greatest height, well recognized and significantly established at national level and beyond credentials, having also sizeable impacts at global scale. The minimum age criteria is above 70 years.

2 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in Public Policy and Governance

A Policy Maker, Who has contributed significantly in the field of Sustainability, in the field of Public Policy and Governance; with historic credible track records, is eligible.

3 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in Public Diplomacy and International Cooperation in promoting Sustainability Leadership in India

An ambassador or High Commissioner to India, of any nation, who has either historic contribution or is contributing now, in area specified above, is eligible.

4 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in Public Diplomacy and International Cooperation in promoting Decarbonization Initiative in India

An Ambassador or High Commissioner to India, of any nation, who has either historic contribution or is contributing now, in area specified above, is eligible.

5 IISD-CMI National Award for Extra Ordinary Contribution in Business Sustainability in Large Scale Industry

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Industry or Business Leader or an Industry or Business of National Eminence, Who is in Large Scale Segment, and has substantially Contributed / or is contributing to the field of Sustainability in India.

6 IISD-CMI National Award for Extra Ordinary Contribution in Business Sustainability, in Decarbonization Sector in Large Scale Industry

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Industry or Business Leader or an Industry or Business of National Eminence, Who in Large Scale Segment, and has substantially contributed / is contributing to the field of Sustainability, in De-carbonization Sector in India.

7 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in Business Sustainability in MSME / Startup

8 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in Sustainability Leadership in Journalism, on Broadcasting/TV Media

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Individual or Institute of National Eminence, who has substantially contributed / is contributing in Leadership in Journalism on Broadcasting or Television Media Segments, in the field of promoting Sustainability in India.

9 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in Sustainability, in Decarbonization Sector Leadership in Journalism and Print Media

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Individual or Institute of National Eminence, who has substantially contributed / is contributing in Leadership in Decarbonization Sector of Journalism in Print Media Segment, on the field of promoting Sustainability in India.

10 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in promoting Sustainability Knowledge

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Individual or Institute of National Eminence, who has substantially contributed / is contributing in Leadership in the field of promoting Sustainability Knowledge and Practice in India.

11 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in Environmental Sustainability

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Individual or Institute of National Eminence, who has substantially contributed / is contributing in Leadership in the Environment. Renewable Energy and Natural Resources Management Segment.

12 IISD-CMI National Award for Extra Ordinary Contribution in Social Sustainability

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Individual or Institute of National Eminence, who has substantially contributed / is contributing in Social Segment, particularly largely for the People and in community engagement, in the field of promoting Sustainability in India at grass-root level.

13 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution among Startup Sector Leadership, in the promotion of Innovation and Sustainability

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Business Leader from Startup Segment, who has substantially contributed / or is contributing to the Field Of Sustainability in India, in partnership with Startup India.

14 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in Women Leadership in the promotion of Innovation and Sustainability

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Woman Entrepreneur or Individual / Institute of National Eminence, who has Substantially Contributed / is Contributing as an Outstanding Leader for Making India more Sustainable.

15 IISD-CMI National Award for Extraordinary Contribution in Youth Leadership, in the promotion Of Innovation and Sustainability

This prestigious National Award is to be bestowed to a Distinguished Youth Leader or Institute of National Eminence, who has Substantially Contributed / is Contributing to Promote Sustainability in India.

Union Cabinet Minister of External Affairs (MEA)