Major awards in India

Major awards in India that recognize outstanding contributions across art and culture, music, cinema, and other creative fields:

Bharat Ratna

• The highest civilian award in India, conferred for exceptional service in any field, including the arts and cultural spheres.

Padma Awards

• Padma Vibhushan – Awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.

• Padma Bhushan – Recognizes distinguished service of a high order.

• Padma Shri – Conferred for distinguished service in various disciplines such as art, literature, music, and cinema.

(These awards are presented by the Government of India on the eve of Republic Day.)

Dadasaheb Phalke Award

• India’s highest honor in cinema, awarded by the Directorate of Film Festivals for lifetime contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

National Film Awards

• A set of awards that honor excellence in various aspects of filmmaking (direction, acting, technical achievements, etc.) across Indian languages.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and Fellowships

▪️ Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – The highest national recognition for practitioners in the performing arts (music, dance, theatre, and traditional arts), administered by the Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Ministry of Culture.

▪️ Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) – The most prestigious honor in the performing arts, awarded for a sustained and significant contribution.

Lalit Kala Akademi Awards

• Awards for excellence in the visual arts, given by the Lalit Kala Akademi, India’s national academy of fine arts.

Sahitya Akademi Awards

• National awards that recognize outstanding literary works and contributions to Indian literature.

National Handicrafts Award

• Honors excellence in the field of traditional and folk crafts, highlighting the rich heritage of Indian craftsmanship.

Shilp Guru Award

• Conferred upon master craftspersons for their exemplary contribution and innovation in traditional crafts.

Rashtriya Kalidas Samman

• Awarded by the Government of Madhya Pradesh to recognize excellence in classical arts (including music, dance, theatre, and plastic arts).

Kalaimamani Award

• A prestigious state award from Tamil Nadu that honors excellence in various fields of art, literature, and music.

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

• Established in memory of the legendary musician, this award recognizes young talent (under 40 years) in music, dance, and drama.