57 applicants have been accepted for this President’s Award for Special Achievement.

Noting that the President’s Special Achievement Awards Committee accepted 57 applications for this year’s awards, the President’s Office said that they are now “evaluating and awarding points to the applicants”.

Opportunity to submit applications for the President’s Award for Special Achievement was opened in August, and the deadline was September 27.

This year’s President's National Award for Special Achievement will be conferred in four categories with the inclusion of a new category in line with a statement made by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during his Republic Day address last year.

The first category will see awards conferred to individuals who have performed exceptionally well in the field of higher education and training, among those who have acquired certification equivalent to Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) ranking levels 7, 8, 9 and 10. One important change, starting last year, is that the committee will defer to the grading categories defined by the institutions from which the individuals received their certificates when determining qualifications levels.

The second category is for individuals who did exceptionally well or achieved the highest rank in an international competition or exhibition.

The third award category concerns individuals who have created effective solutions to pressing national issues through their innovation and research.

The new category is for creative and innovative efforts recognised to have had a positive effect on national progress, and is exclusive to young people aged between 18 to 35.

This year’s awards ceremony is to be presented during the National Day celebrations.