New Delhi: In a distinguished ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award 2026 upon Major General Lissamma PV, Additional Director General of the Military Nursing Service (ADGMNS), recognising her exceptional contributions to military healthcare and nearly four decades of dedicated service.
The award, presented on the occasion of International Nurses Day, honours nursing professionals for outstanding service, compassion, and leadership in the field. Maj Gen Lissamma PV was among 15 recipients nationwide, selected for her professional excellence, integrity, and commitment to patient care, nursing education, and administrative leadership within the Indian Armed Forces.
Commissioned into the Military Nursing Service in 1986, Maj Gen Lissamma PV has risen through the ranks, holding key appointments including Principal of the College of Nursing at Command Hospital (Air Force), Bangalore, Principal Matron at Command Hospital (Eastern Command), and senior administrative roles at Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army). She assumed the appointment of ADGMNS in May 2025. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Arts & Law and a Master’s in Hospital Administration.
The Military Nursing Service (MNS), established in 1888, forms an integral part of the Indian Army’s medical apparatus. MNS officers are directly commissioned through a rigorous selection process and granted officer ranks equivalent to those in the Army, ranging from Lieutenant to Major General. This commissioned status ensures they exercise command and administrative authority over nursing staff and support medical operations in military hospitals, field units, and during humanitarian missions. It underscores the critical leadership role nursing officers play in delivering high-quality healthcare to troops, their families, and civilians in conflict and peace zones alike. Their officer rank reflects the professional demands and strategic importance of modern military nursing, blending clinical expertise with disciplined leadership.
In her recognition, Maj Gen Lissamma PV highlighted the collective pride of the MNS fraternity. Her achievement symbolises the enduring spirit of service that defines India’s military nurses, who often operate in challenging environments while upholding the highest standards of care.
This honour not only celebrates individual excellence but also reaffirms the pivotal contribution of MNS officers to the nation’s defence healthcare ecosystem. As threats evolve and operational demands intensify, their role remains indispensable in sustaining the fighting fitness of India’s armed forces.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
