This award was instituted in 1985 by the Indian National Congress in its Centenary year. The Award is for promoting National Integration, understanding and fellowship amongst religious groups, communities, ethnic groups, cultures, languages, and traditions of India and also to strengthen through thought and action, nation’s sense of solidarity. The Award is given on her Martyrdom Day i.e. 31st October. The Award carries citation and cash amount of Rs. 10.00 lakh to be given either to a person or an institution for the outstanding contribution made to promote National Integration.
Receipients of the Award so far have been given to Swami Ranganathananda, Smt. Aruna Asaf Ali, Bharat Scouts & Guides, Shri P.N. Haksar, Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi, Shri Rajiv Gandhi (Posthumously), Paramdham Ashram (Wardha, Maharashtra), Acharya Shree Tulsi Ji, Dr. Bishambar Nath Pande, Sardar Beant Singh (Posthumously) & Shri Natwar Thakkar (Jointly), Gandhi Institute of Public Affairs (Karnataka), Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration (Shanti Niketan), Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma (Posthumously), Prof. Satish Dhawan, Shri H.Y. Sharada Prasad, Ram-Rahim Nagar Slum Dwellers Association (Ahmedabad), Aaman Pathik – Peace Volunteer Group (Ahmedabad), Shri Ram Sinh Solanki & Shri Sunil Tamaiche (Jointly), Acharya Mahaprajna, Shri Shyam Benegal, Smt. Mahasweta Devi, Shri Javed Akhtar, Dr. J.S. Bandukwalla & Dr. Ram Puniyani (Jointly), Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust (Indore, Madhya Pradesh), Shri Balraj Puri, Shri A.R. Rahman & Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Narainpur, Chhattisgarh (jointly), Shri Mohan Dharia, Shri Gulzar,
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Shri Rajagopal P.V., Shri T.M. Krishna and Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt.
The prescribed proforma for recommendation of the Award may be obtained from the Office in AICC, 24, Akbar Road, New Delhi-110011 and recommendation should reach latest by 31st August, 2021.