Ernst & Young on Wednesday announced the beginning of nomination process for the award, which was started for the local industry last year. The nominations will close on July 10, 2000.

The winners will be invited to represent India at the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year International Conference at Palm Springs, California in November. The Indian awards this year are being sponsored by Nasdaq stock exchange.

Ernst & Young India started the awards in 1999 in four categories. The categories are being broadbased this year to cater to the phenomenal changes that the Indian business scene is witnessing.

Announcing the awards for this year, Ernst & Young India chairman KN Memani said, "The Indian entrepreneurs have been making an indelible mark on the global business scene. The award is our way of recognising and felicitating these entrepreneurs for their determination and will to succeed."

The six categories for the award this year master entrepreneur of the year, entrepreneur of the year, industry award categories, start-up entrepreneur of the year, family business entrepreneur of the year and manager entrepreneur of the year.

The 1999 awards were won by Subhash Chandra of Zee, B Ramalinga Raju of Satyam Computers, Rajendra S Pawar of NIIT and K Raghavendra Rao of Orchid Chemicals. The jury last year was headed by HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh. Other members included Ficci secretary general Amit Mitra, former CII presidents N Kumar and Brijmohan Lall Munjal. Parekh will continue to lead the jury this year.

Ernst & Young instituted this award in 1986 in the US and is now operational in 20 countries world wide.

A nominee must be an owner/manager primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company that is at least two year old except for start ups. Founders of public companies are eligible provided the founder is still active in top management.