21st April 2026

On the occasion of Dr. Bela Sethi’s 80th birth anniversary, her children are honoured to announce the establishment of the Dr. Bela Sethi Award of Excellence.

Dr. Bela Sethi’s life and work were marked by selfless discipline, professional dedication, and a deep commitment to the care and mentorship of others. Her legacy continues through the many lives she influenced, both as a physical therapist and as a mentor. Her masterful touch restored dignity, mobility, and hope to innumerable lives. This award has been created to celebrate her values and to encourage future professionals who demonstrate similar promise, integrity, and commitment to the growth of their field.

The Dr. Bela Sethi Award of Excellence will be an annual scholarship intended to support a student in the final academic year of a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) program at a recognized physiotherapy college in India. The award will cover the student’s final-year academic fee. The first award will be granted for the academic year 2027–2028.

Heads of Department of Physical Therapy or Physiotherapy in recognized colleges in India are invited to nominate one eligible student each year. Nominations for the inaugural award should be submitted between 1 March 2027 - 1 May 2027. Based on the nominations received, the SNRC committee will shortlist up to five candidates for an interview with the selection panel. The selected student will receive the award at the annual Bela Sethi Memorial Lecture, with the inaugural lecture and award presentation planned for July 2027.

The nomination process will be conducted through a formal nomination form. The form will request essential student information and a statement from the nominator addressing the candidate’s qualifications for the award. Selection criteria will include academic merit and consistent performance, financial need or demonstrated need for support, commitment to the profession of physiotherapy, demonstration of initiative, leadership, and service . Professionalism, integrity, and potential for future contribution to the field will be factors taken into consideration. Nominators are asked to comment specifically on these areas so that the review process is fair, structured, and aligned with the purpose of the award.

Please accept this as a formal announcement and an invitation to nominate a student in the third year of a BPT program (at the time of nomination), whom you believe demonstrates dedication to the continued growth and excellence of the profession. Further details regarding eligibility, selection criteria, nomination procedures, timelines, and the nomination form will be made available on the website. For any enquiries you may contact us via enquiries@snrc.uk

Dr Vasudha Sethi

Dr Varun Sethi