What does it cost?

Participation in the Award is not expensive.
All Zones in India charge young people an entrance fee to cover the cost of administration and support. This fee sometimes also includes some basic insurance cover-but check this with your Zone. As there is such a wide choice of activities, it is possible for you to select activities which are free or very low cost. For example-learning to fly may be an expensive choice of activity but learning to swim may not be-the choice is yours.
For a School, College or Institution to participate in the programm, the affilation fee is Rs. 2500/-. The enrollment fee per student for College students is Rs. 300/-, for School students is Rs. 250/-.

What do I get?

When you are undertaking your Award, you'll receive a record book to chart your progress in the four sections of the Award.
As a successful participant, you will receive a prestigious badge and certificate to mark your achievement for whichever level of the Award you undertake-bronze, silver or gold. The Awards are normally presented at specially organised ceremonies by celebrities, local dignitaries or even royalty.

Can a participant go for the adventure for Silver without completing all the 4 sections of Bronze?

Yes, it is possible to work for a section of the next higher Award before completing all other sections of a lower Award, as long as the participant has reached the minimum starting age for the higher Award. In these circumstances, the exemptions cannot be claimed until the lower Award is achieved.

Should the participant opt for another skill when he begins his silver level?

Yes, participants may follow the same Skill activity for more than one level of Award or may choose a different one for each level.

Is there literature on the Award?

Yes literature on the Award exists. You can collect it in India from any of the Zonal Award Authorities. They are in the North Zone (HQ in New Delhi), South Zone (HQ in Chennai), West Zone (HQ in Mumbai) and East Zone (HQ in Kolkata), whichever is applicable to your city. Contact details of our Zonal Award Authorities in India could be found in our website.

Whom do I go to for answers with regard to Award queries?

You can go to Regional Officer West Zone Award Authority.

Importance of correct documentation: Why are Diaries important? Why should Record Books be filled with care?

Diaries and Record Books are important for the purpose of checking the accurate dates and times of activity undertaken, outcomes, etc… as these are some times too many to remember in one’s memory. Once you have completed your period of the relevant Award Programme, your Diary and Record Book would be your proof of what you have done and achieved, which would then make you eligible for the Award.

What is the difference between Skill / Physical recreation/ expedition and exploration?

The difference between Skill / Physical recreation, expedition / exploration is that Skill is something that one is able to achieve without sweat, such as, playing a musical instrument, painting, studying architecture, photography, sculpture, crafts, umpiring and refereeing, making of sports equipment, flying, gliding, motor sports, agriculture, bee keeping, bird watching, dog training and handling, fishing, forestry, gardening, keeping pets, weather studies, etc.

Physical Recreation is something that makes one sweat, such as- ball sports, athletics, water sports, winter sports, martial arts, animals sports, fitness activities, adventure sports, dancing, etc.

Expedition / Exploration for example is exploring the natural world, exploring historic land use, to investigate the evolution or extinction of a language, exploring human impact, personal artistic expression or aesthetic appreciation, to carry out health surveys or health education in remote areas, to complete a demanding journey, to investigate group dynamics in challenging conditions, etc.

Is Community Service only about giving money? What about human caring? Sewa or Daan?

Community service is in fact more than giving money. Giving money is a simple task, but helping the people in the community, like visiting people in need, elderly or disabled people, voluntary work in hospitals and medical centres, visiting prisons or detention centres, helping with a local community radio or newspaper, sports coaching or leadership, first aid, etc.

Apart from the above, there are other forms of community service which could be taken up, such as, acting in a leadership role in a youth club, assisting in the teaching of primary school children, helping other young people participate in the Award by acting as a leader, working with experienced persons to educate the local community on AIDS, etc., teaching a person to read or write, participating in a conservation project, caring for a public or schools garden, encouraging use of wastepaper bins, caring for animals under threat, working in a clean up campaign, fundraising for a charity, helping an emergency service team, assisting with local or national disaster operations, etc.

Why Residential Projects for Gold?

The Aim of the Residential Projects for Gold Award is to broaden participant’s outlook and horizons through involvement with others in a residential setting. Gives Gold participants a shared purposeful experience with people who are not their usual companions.

Can a Zone/School be changed?

Yes this could be done, as per the instructions of the relevant Zonal Award Authority.

The age levels for participation?

For Bronze level, if a young person is slightly younger than 14, but is part of a peer group where the majority are 14 or older, then the National Award Authority (NAA) may exercise some discretion to allow that / those young persons to start the Bronze Award with the rest of the group. The starting age should not go below 13 ½ years. The participants time however will only count from 14 years and completion should not be earlier than 14 ½ years. The eligibility for Silver level is 15 yrs., and for Gold level is 16 yrs. and above.

Maximum age to participate?

The maximum age to participate in this Award program is 25 years. However, most participants who have enrolled at the age of 14 are often able to obtain the Gold Award before they are 20 years of age.

What does one get on successful completion of each Award level?

For each level of success a participant gets a Bronze, Silver or Gold badge ( as is applicable) and a certificate bearing the signatures of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.