New Delhi, Nov 16 (IANS): The Dr. Mangalam Swaminathan Foundation, founded last year by noted columnist and BJP ideologue R. Balashankar, has announced its maiden awards for national excellence, including in the field of journalism.

The foundation received nearly 2,000 entries in the five categories from all over the country in different languages.

The Dr. Mangalam Swaminathan National Award for Excellence in Journalism is being awarded to Ranjana Narayan, senior editor at IANS, for "her lifetime achievements, commitment, and exceptional skills".

The award for Excellence in Science Reporting is being given to V. Selvaraj, senior editor, Kalakaumudi, a Malayalam literary, academic and political weekly, while the award for Excellence in Art and Culture is being conferred to Kiran Seth, a professor at IIT Delhi and the founder of SPIC MACAY.

The award for Excellence in Medical Malpractice Investigation is being given to Kaunain Sheriff of the Indian Express.

The award for Excellence in the field of Social Service has been named after Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh pracharak Dattopant Thengadi. The award is being given to Seva Bharati, Kerala, for its rescue and rehabilitation work during the devastating floods in Kerala.

The awards carry a memento, a citation in bronze and a purse of Rs one lakh.

The awards will be given away by BJP working President J.P. Nadda at a ceremony on November 29 at the NDMC auditorium.

Dr. Mangalam Swaminathan Foundation has been instituted in the memory of Mangalam Swaminathan, a well-known journalist, writer, academic and lover of arts, literature, and former Programme Director, IGNCA.

She passed away on October 2, 2017 due to alleged criminal medical neglect. Her husband Balashankar is a member of BJP's central committee on training and a former editor of RSS-affiliated journal, Organiser.