- No application/entry fees is required for an applicant to submit an entry.
- The Awards are open to any applicant who is 18 years of age or above.
- The entry can be made either as a single entry, a joint entry, a three-participant entry, or a team entry where the byline is shared by more than three participants.
- The Award categories and criteria are specified at www.rngfoundation.com/awards.
- Only stories done between January 1st, 2024, to December 31st, 2024, qualify for consideration this year.
- The prize money for each category is ₹ 1,00,000/- (Rupeess. One Lac only) which will be given in the form of demand draft only. If prize is awarded to more than one person, the prize money will be shared between them. If prize is awarded to a team, the prize money is given in name of the organization.
- Each entry shall be made and completed in the manner and with the forms, disclosures and enclosures specified herein.
- Each entry must originate from a media house, wire service, syndicate, news organization, or television outlet affiliated with an Indian entity. This criterion does not apply to entries for the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award for Foreign Correspondent covering India.
- A completed entry with required enclosures should be submitted to the Ramnath Goenka Memorial Foundation, Indian Express Building, B-1/B, Sector-10, Ramnath Goenka Marg, Noida-201 301, Uttar Pradesh latest by 5.00 pm on July 20, 2025. These Awards are conducted by Ramnath Goenka Memorial Foundation (“RNGMF”) and The Indian Express (P) Limited ("TIEPL"). RNGMF, TIEPL and the Judge[s] shall not be responsible for delays in receipt of any entry.
- The entry form should be completed and secured to the front of the entry, along with a clear copy of the same and enclosures. Each entry must have an entry form (in duplicate) attached, the duplicate can be a photocopy of the original completed entry form. To be enclosed A) Print/ digital - submit/upload two originals of the news report, articles, or feature stories; B) Broadcast/digital -submit two Pen drive/ Google drive link (All the shared google drive links should be active and accessible without any restrictions) in MPEG/MP4 format/upload video files along with script/s; C) Books - submit two physical copies of the book to Ramnath Goenka Foundation. The entry form can also be downloaded from the website, www.rngfoundation.com/awards
- The original articles/news reports/program submitted of the publication/coverage must indicate the date of publication or broadcast.
- Full disclosure is required; if there has been any challenge to the veracity, accuracy, fairness, &/or authenticity or objection to significant omission, or breach of journalists’ Code of Ethics, or allegation of infringement or staleness for entry (or against any Applicant thereof) such as published letters, corrections, clarifications, retractions, regrets, apology, removal etc the same need to be disclosed and copy thereof to be included.
- The entry must disclose if the news report/article/program or Applicant is subject to any legal notice or legal challenge or statutory proceedings, and status thereof (threatened/pending/settled). If after submission, the news report/article/program is subject to any legal notice or legal challenge or statutory proceedings, or the Applicant believes or has reason to believe that there is any infirmity in the veracity, originality and/or otherwise of the entry, he/she must immediately inform TIEPL in writing. The Judge[s], RNGMF, &/or TIEPL may require the Applicant to furnish additional information/explanation/ material in such cases or disqualify the entry at their sole discretion.
- A series must be designated as such by the publication when it is printed. A regular column may also be submitted as a series. Fiction will not be considered.
- Each Applicant (whether by himself / herself or with others) can enter up to two entries per category only.
- An English translation must be submitted for any entry in Hindi/ regional language.
- Each entry in the Feature Writing category should accompany a letter from the editor certifying that the work entered was original and not rewritten.
- A recommendation letter of nomination should be submitted, signed by a person senior to the Applicant, employed by the same organization where the original articles/news reports/program was originally published/broadcast, and included with the entry form. The letter shall certify that the Applicant is personally and professionally known to the person, and it certifies that the Applicant has adhered to the journalists’ code of ethics and he /she is not aware of any information or circumstances where the Applicant’s reputation, integrity and professionalism as a journalist has been called into question or otherwise impeached. The letter format can be downloaded from the website, www.rngfoundation.com/awards
- The entry form and enclosures if incomplete, will be automatically invalidated and disqualified.
- If more than the permitted numbers of entries are submitted, entries will be considered in chronological order of receipt; the additional entries will be ignored.
- Each Applicant will be deemed to have read and understood these rules and regulations when he or she has signed the entry form. Each Applicant undertakes to conduct himself /herself with propriety, decorum and civility.
- RNGMF, and TIEPL shall have full right and license to announce in any language, medium, and territory, the prize winners and in pursuance thereof or otherwise to cover the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, to publish the content of the material (entry) or synopsis thereof and/or biography sketch with or without the photograph of the Applicant and with or without the name of the organization, which have been submitted.
- The material and entry form once submitted shall become the property of TIEPL and shall not be returned.
- The physical application forms that are torn, ripped, and/or mutilated will not be accepted.
- The decision of TIEPL in the matter of eligibility, conduct of these Awards, selection, announcement of winners etc shall be final and binding no correspondence of whatsoever nature will be entertained by TIEPL in this regard.
- The names of the winners and the prizes will be announced by TIEPL. The date of publication of the results and the place for distribution of the prizes will be at the sole discretion of TIEPL.
- TIEPL reserves the right to suspend, cancel, and/or modify the rules and regulations for these Awards at any time and without prior notice.
- TIEPL reserves the right to return or cancel any submission / entry at any stage without assigning reasons.
- In the event that there is any challenge or doubt as to the integrity, veracity, genuineness, authenticity, fairness or otherwise of any entry or Applicant or any instance of his/her having violating the journalists’ Code of Ethics, TIEPL and the Judges may in their sole discretion, withdraw his /her submission at any stage, not limited to withdrawal or cancellation of declaration of winner (s). The decision of the Judge[s] and TIEPL will be final.
- If an Applicant is declared a winner in any category, he/she shall make best efforts to attend and participate in the Awards ceremony.
- No claim of whatsoever nature shall be entertained if the winner[s] fails[s] to collect the Prize[s] at the Awards ceremony and/or venue specified by TIEPL. No cash shall be payable in lieu of the prize.
- The Courts of New Delhi shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
- Last Date of Submission: 5:00 PM on June 30 2025
Instructions for Offline submission
- All the information must be duly filled in the entry form.
- A print out of the duly filled form must be taken and signed on both sides before sending the final entry.
- For 'Mandatory Requirement', please ensure you submit typed material only along with the Entry Form.
- A recommendation letter of nomination should be submitted, signed by a person senior to the Applicant, employed by the same organization where the original articles/news reports/program was originally published/broadcast, and included with the entry form. The letter shall certify that the Applicant is personally and professionally known to the person, and it certifies that the Applicant has adhered to the journalists’ code of ethics and he /she is not aware of any information or circumstances where the Applicant’s reputation, integrity and professionalism as a journalist has been called into question or otherwise impeached. The letter format can be downloaded from the website, www.rngfoundation.com/awards
- Entry form should be properly filled in, duly signed and submitted along with a recent passport size photograph & 'Mandatory Requirement' either in person or sent by post/courier on the following address:
Ramnath Goenka Memorial Foundation,
Indian Express Building, B-1/B,
Sector-10, Ramnath Goenka Marg,
Noida-201 301, Uttar Pradesh
Instructions for Online submission
- The applicant's image that is to be uploaded should not be less than 500KB and more than 2MB
- The uploaded articles should be clear enough and readable.
- In case of the website link or google drive link is being shared it should be an active and accessible without any restrictions.
- A recommendation letter of nomination should be submitted, signed by a person senior to the Applicant, employed by the same organization, and included with the entry form. The sponsoring letter shall certify that the Applicant is personally and professionally known to the Sponsor, and the Sponsor certifies that the Applicant has adhered to the journalists’ code of ethics and he /she is not aware of any information or circumstances where the Applicant’s reputation, integrity and professionalism as a journalist has been called into question or otherwise impeached.
- If the applicant saves the application form for later and is unable to fill the form within the time limit then their form will be rejected automatically.
- Those who are applying for the Books (Non-Fiction) category must send 2 physical copies of the book to the RNG Foundation either in person or sent by post/courier on the following address:
Ramnath Goenka Memorial Foundation,
Indian Express Building, B-1/B,
Sector-10, Ramnath Goenka Marg,
Noida-201 301, Uttar Pradesh