Sangeet Natak Akademi Announces Fellowship & Awards for 2024 and 2025

Key Facts

• The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) and Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for 2024 and 2025 were announced by the General Council of the Sangeet Natak Akademi in June 2026.
• Seven eminent personalities were elected as Akademi Fellows: Ramlal Bareth, A V Anand, Rita Ganguly, Puru Dadheech, Chittaranjan Jyotishi, Pasumarthi Rattaiah Sarma, and Sudharani Raghupathy.
• A total of 108 artists spanning music, dance, theatre, traditional/folk/tribal arts, puppetry, overall contribution and scholarship were selected for the Akademi Puraskar in the 2024–2025 cycle.
• 106 young artists were selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awarded to performers under 40 for encouraging emerging talent in the performing arts.
• The investiture ceremony is scheduled for 13 August 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to be held under the auspices of the President of India, currently Droupadi Murmu.
• Cash awards along with a Tamrapatra (citation) and Angavastram (honorific shawl) accompany the honours: ₹3 lakh for Fellows, ₹1 lakh for Awardees, and ₹25,000 for Yuva Puraskar recipients.
• The awards cover a comprehensive spectrum of Indian performing arts traditions including classical and folk music, various dance forms, theatre, puppetry, and critical scholarship.

Background & Context

Sangeet Natak Akademi, established in 1953, is India’s national academy dedicated to music, dance, and drama, operating under the Ministry of Culture. It is tasked with promoting and preserving the diversity of India’s performing arts. The Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) is the academy’s highest honour, limited to 40 living fellows at any given time, recognizing lifetime achievement and outstanding contribution. The Akademi Puraskar is awarded for sustained individual excellence in the performing arts. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, instituted in 2006, encourages young and emerging talent below 40 years.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and Fellowship are frequently mentioned in Indian competitive exams under culture and arts segments. Knowledge of the awards' purpose, recent recipients, award amounts, categories, and ceremony details (date, venue, dignitaries) is crucial. The Awards symbolize recognition of India’s intangible cultural heritage and the government’s initiatives to promote performing arts. Details such as the involvement of the President of India and the location at Vigyan Bhawan are commonly queried.

Points to Remember

• Sangeet Natak Akademi was established in 1953 as India’s premier national academy for performing arts.
• The highest honour conferred is the Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna), restricted to 40 living fellows.
• The Akademi Awards (Puraskar) recognize outstanding and sustained contributions in various performing arts disciplines.
• The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar rewards emerging young artists below age 40.
• The 2024 and 2025 Awards investiture ceremony will be conducted on 13 August 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards.
• Cash prizes: ₹3,00,000 for Fellows, ₹1,00,000 for Awardees, and ₹25,000 for Yuva Puraskar recipients, each accompanied by a Tamrapatra and an Angavastram.
• Selected 2024 Fellows include Ramlal Bareth and Sudharani Raghupathy among others.
• Recipients hail from all Indian states and union territories and represent a wide range of art forms, including folk, tribal, classical, theatre, and scholarship.