If you are a fisheries scientist, a progressive fish farmer, a hatchery owner or an aquaculture entrepreneur, there are five days left to put your name forward for national recognition. The ARDF–IAFA National Fisheries & Aquaculture Excellence Awards – 2026 are open for nominations until Sunday, 15 November 2026, with the results to be announced on World Fisheries Day, Saturday, 21 November 2026. Three awards are on offer, each named after a pioneer who shaped modern Indian fisheries — and each open to individuals and institutions from anywhere in India.
Read this carefully before you pay anything: this is a private initiative, not a government scheme. The awards are organised by the Indian Aquaculture & Fisheries Association (IAFA), with institutional support from the AgroVet Research & Development Foundation (ARDF) and media partnership from Pashudhan Praharee. There is a ₹500 registration fee per category, and it is strictly non-refundable — even if the nomination is not selected. Nomination is not a guarantee of an award. This post gives you the full picture — categories, dates, fee, eligibility, documents and how to apply — so you can decide with your eyes open.
The awards at a glance
| Awards | ARDF–IAFA National Fisheries & Aquaculture Excellence Awards – 2026 |
| Organiser | Indian Aquaculture & Fisheries Association (IAFA); institutional support from AgroVet Research & Development Foundation (ARDF); media partner Pashudhan Praharee |
| Announced | 1 November 2026 |
| Last date for nominations | Sunday, 15 November 2026 |
| Scrutiny and evaluation | 16–19 November 2026 (online) |
| Finalisation of awardees | 20 November 2026 |
| Results announced | Saturday, 21 November 2026 — World Fisheries Day |
| Award ceremony | Friday, 11 December 2026, at the VAI–AGRI–VET–BIOFOOD 2026 Conference, MGM Hills, Gandheli, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra |
| Registration fee | ₹500 per award category (separate application and fee for each category) |
| Fee refund | Non-refundable under any circumstances, including non-selection |
| How to nominate | Online — by email, with the nomination form, documents and fee-payment proof |
The three awards — and the pioneers behind them
Each award is named after a person whose work built the foundations of Indian fisheries. Knowing who they were tells you what each award is really looking for.
1. Prof. Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri Memorial National Fisheries & Aquaculture Excellence Award – 2026
Honouring the pioneer of induced fish breeding in India. Prof. Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri (1921–2014) is remembered for the breakthrough that made modern Indian aquaculture possible: on 10 July 1957, he achieved the successful induced breeding of Indian major carps using pituitary extract. That single experiment laid the scientific foundation for hatchery-based fish seed production in India — without it, there would be no large-scale carp farming as we know it. This award recognises outstanding contributions to fish breeding, hatchery technology, freshwater aquaculture, fish seed production and farmer-friendly breeding innovations. Key areas include induced breeding and reproductive biotechnology, hatchery management, sustainable aquaculture practices and fisheries extension.
2. Dr. K. H. Alikunhi Memorial National Fisheries Science & Development Award – 2026
Honouring excellence in fisheries science, research and development. Dr. K. H. Alikunhi (1918–2010) was an eminent fisheries scientist who served at the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore, and as Director of the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai. Along with Prof. Chaudhuri, he was associated with the historic 1957 induced-breeding breakthrough. This award recognises scientists, researchers, academicians and institutions whose work has advanced fisheries science, education, conservation, technology development and sustainable fisheries management — including scientific publications, books and policy-oriented contributions.
3. Dr. Arun Krishnan National Aquaculture Entrepreneurship Award – 2026
Recognising leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship in aquaculture. Dr. Arun Krishnan is remembered as one of the pioneers associated with India’s Blue Revolution — the push to modernise fisheries, expand aquaculture and strengthen fish farmers’ livelihoods. This award was originally instituted by Pashudhan Praharee in 2020 and continues in 2026, recognising entrepreneurs, startups, enterprises and institutions driving the growth of India’s aquaculture industry. Key areas include biofloc, recirculatory aquaculture systems (RAS) and cage culture, hatchery development, fish processing and value addition, fisheries startups, women and youth entrepreneurship, and employment generation.
Who can apply
Nominations are invited from eligible individuals, professionals, entrepreneurs and institutions across India. The list is deliberately wide:
- Fisheries scientists, researchers, university faculty and academicians
- Research scholars and PhD holders
- Fisheries and aquaculture professionals, department officials and technical experts
- Progressive fish farmers and aquaculture practitioners
- Hatchery owners and fish seed producers
- Aquaculture entrepreneurs and startup founders
- Fish processing, marketing and export professionals
- Fisheries cooperatives, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) and producer organisations
- NGOs, societies, research organisations and institutions
- Women and youth entrepreneurs in fisheries and aquaculture
The minimum requirements are straightforward: the nominee must have demonstrable achievements relevant to the chosen award, the nomination must be backed by documentary evidence, and both individual and institutional nominations may be considered where applicable. Practical, grassroots achievements and innovative work are explicitly given due consideration — this is not an award for publications alone. The selection committee assesses nominations on merit, impact, innovation, relevance and supporting evidence, and its decision is final.
How to nominate: step by step
The entire process — nomination, application, scrutiny and evaluation — is conducted online. Here is exactly what to do:
Step 1: Pick your category. Choose one of the three awards above. You may apply for more than one, but each category needs a separate application form and a separate ₹500 fee.
Step 2: Fill the application form. Download the prescribed ARDF–IAFA award application form (2026) from the official awards page and complete it for the chosen category.
Step 3: Pay the ₹500 fee. Pay per category through the payment channels given on the official page (UPI or bank transfer). Keep the transaction receipt — proof of payment must be attached to the nomination. Remember: the fee is non-refundable, so pay only when you are sure you are applying.
Step 4: Gather your documents. You will need: the completed application form; an updated CV or professional profile; a brief biography and summary of achievements; a detailed nomination statement on your major contributions and impact; supporting certificates, reports, research papers, publications or project documents; photographs of relevant activities or projects; a recommender’s statement where required; the fee-payment proof; and, for institutional nominations, the institutional profile.
Step 5: Email the nomination. Send everything to pashudhanpraharee@gmail.com, with the award category named clearly in the subject line — suggested subject: “Nomination – [Name of Award] – National Fisheries & Aquaculture Excellence Awards 2026”.
Step 6: Attach the declaration. Every nomination must include a signed declaration confirming the information is true, the achievements are genuine and supported by documents, the nominee’s consent has been obtained where required, and that you accept the fee conditions and the selection committee’s decision as final. The declaration needs your full name, designation, institution, postal address, mobile number, email and signature.
Step 7: Submit before Sunday, 15 November 2026. The organisers advise submitting well before the closing date to avoid last-minute technical or documentation problems. Incomplete applications, or nominations without essential supporting documents, may not be considered.
The fee question, answered honestly
Let us be direct about the money, because this is where readers get hurt. The registration fee is ₹500 per category — ₹1,000 for two categories, ₹1,500 for three. The organisers state plainly that the fee is strictly non-refundable under any circumstances, including withdrawal, cancellation, disqualification, non-selection or rejection. Submission of a nomination does not guarantee selection, and the organisers reserve the right not to confer an award in a category if no suitable nominations are received.
What does the winner get? The announcement says selected awardees will be physically honoured with awards, citations and mementoes at the ceremony on 11 December 2026. No cash prize amount is published anywhere in the announcement, so none is claimed here. Treat this as recognition and a platform — not as prize money. And because payment details are involved, verify everything on the official awards page yourself before transferring any money, and use only the contact channels listed there.
Why the timing matters: World Fisheries Day
The results are deliberately timed for World Fisheries Day, 21 November 2026 — the 29th observance of the day, which turns the spotlight on the roughly 600 million people worldwide whose livelihoods depend on fisheries and aquaculture. India is marking the day with a major policy moment too: the draft National Plan of Action for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) is reported for public release on the same day. These awards sit in that same current — a week when the country is publicly talking about who fishers are and what they are worth. The physical ceremony follows three weeks later, on 11 December 2026, at the VAI–AGRI–VET–BIOFOOD 2026 Conference in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. Selected awardees will be informed about the ceremony arrangements through their registered email or mobile number.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a government award?
No. It is a private national initiative organised by the Indian Aquaculture & Fisheries Association (IAFA), with institutional support from the AgroVet Research & Development Foundation (ARDF) and media partnership from Pashudhan Praharee. It is not a Government of India or state government award, and it carries no government funding or affiliation.
What is the last date to nominate?
Sunday, 15 November 2026. Scrutiny runs 16–19 November, awardees are finalised on 20 November, and results are announced on Saturday, 21 November 2026.
How much does it cost to nominate?
₹500 per award category. Two categories cost ₹1,000 and three cost ₹1,500, with a separate application for each. The fee is non-refundable, even if you are not selected.
Can a fish farmer apply, or is it only for scientists?
Fish farmers can absolutely apply. Progressive fish farmers, hatchery owners, aquaculture practitioners, entrepreneurs and cooperatives are all explicitly listed as eligible — and grassroots, practical achievements are given due consideration alongside academic work.
Can I nominate someone else?
Yes — the process covers nominations by a nominator as well as self-applications. The declaration must confirm the nominee’s consent where required, and a recommender’s statement should be included where the form asks for one.
Is there a cash prize?
No cash prize amount is published in the official announcement, so none is promised here. Awardees are honoured with awards, citations and mementoes at the ceremony on 11 December 2026.
Where do I send the nomination?
By email to pashudhanpraharee@gmail.com, with the award category in the subject line, attaching the completed form, documents and fee-payment proof. For queries, contact ARDF at agrovetfoundation@gmail.com or +91 8092877290, or Pashudhan Praharee at pashudhanpraharee@gmail.com or +91 9431309542.
Read more on Fisheries India
- World Fisheries Day 2026: 600M Livelihoods, 1 Big Warning — why 21 November matters, and the draft small-scale fisheries plan India is set to release that day.
- CIFE Opens 14 Fisheries Courses: Shrimp, Biofloc & More — ICAR-CIFE’s November–December 2026 skill-development courses, including shrimp farming at Kakinada.
- ICAR NTS ₹5,000/Month: Verify by Nov 15 or Lose It — another 15 November deadline: National Talent Scholarship verification closes the same day these award nominations do.
- Fish Output Up 39.6% — NFDB’s New Plan for Fish Farmers — what the National Fisheries Development Board decided at its 13th Governing Body meeting on 5 November.
Official links and sources
- Pashudhan Praharee — ARDF–IAFA National Fisheries & Aquaculture Excellence Awards – 2026 (official announcement: categories, dates, fee, eligibility, documents, payment and contact details; page updated 7 November 2026)
- AgroVet Research & Development Foundation (ARDF) (institutional support for the awards)
All facts above were verified on 10 November 2026 against the official awards announcement on pashudhanpraharee.com. This is a private initiative by IAFA, ARDF and Pashudhan Praharee — not a government award. The ₹500 fee per category is non-refundable and nomination does not guarantee selection; no cash prize amount is published, so none is claimed. The full bank account details are not republished here — use the official page for payment information. The organisers reserve the right to modify the schedule; check the official page for any change. Images in this post are illustrations.