Bhubaneswar: The Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), managed by the IMFA Group, has announced the call for nominations for the 34th edition of the prestigious Ekalabya Puraskar-2026, Odisha’s annual award honouring outstanding young sportspersons in the state.
The Ekalabya Puraskar carries a cash prize of ₹7 lakh, while two citation awards will each be given with a prize of ₹1.5 lakh. The awards recognise exceptional tale
nt and achievements among young athletes from Odisha.
Eligible candidates must be 25 years of age or younger as on March 31, 2026. Nominations can only be submitted through recognised sports organisations, boards, associations, universities, colleges, or schools within the state. Applicants are required to provide detailed evidence of their performance history at state, national, and international levels during the qualifying period from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026, along with valid proof of age. Nominations must reach the organisers by May 31.
Alternatively, nominations can be emailed to exalabye@irnra.in, but hard copies of all supporting documents must still be posted to the above address, an IMFA release said.
The Ekalabya Puraskar is widely regarded as one of the most coveted sports honours in Odisha for emerging athletes.