10 June 2026·PIB

Announcement of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) & Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the years 2024 and 2025 and Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2024 and 2025

In this note

1. At a Glance

Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) is India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, under the Ministry of Culture; it confers the country's highest state recognition for performing arts [1][2].
Three honours: Akademi Ratna (Fellowship) — lifetime, capped at 40 living fellows; Akademi Puraskar (Award) — mid-career; Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar — for artists under 40 [1][2].
Examinable as a GS-I (Indian culture) + Art & Culture Prelims factoid; the 2024–25 combined cycle was announced on 10 June 2026 [1].

On 10 June 2026, the Ministry of Culture announced the SNA Fellowship & Awards for 2024 and 2025 following the General Council meeting (22–26 March 2026) at New Delhi [1].
7 Akademi Fellows (Ratna), 108 Akademi Puraskar awardees and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar lists for both 2024 and 2025 were notified [1].

SNA established 1952–53 by a resolution of the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India; the first National Academy set up by the Republic; presently an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act [2].
Akademi Awards instituted in 1952; Fellowships (Ratna) instituted in 1954 — the highest honour [2].
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar instituted in 2006 to recognise young talent (≤ 40 yrs) in performing arts [2].
Previous cycle: For 2022 & 2023, 6 Fellows + 92 Awardees + 80 Yuva Puraskars were announced (Feb 2024); conferred by President Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhawan on 6 March 2024 [3][4].

Parent body: Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi — autonomous body under Ministry of Culture, GoI [1][2].
Constitutional/statutory base: None; SNA is a registered society with a General Council as supreme decision-making body [2].
Chairperson: Appointed by President of India (in capacity of SNA's patron, via Ministry of Culture) [2].
Akademi Ratna (Fellowship): Cash purse ₹3,00,000, Tamrapatra & Angavastram; ceiling 40 living fellows [3][2].
Akademi Puraskar (Award): Cash purse ₹1,00,000, Tamrapatra, Angavastram [2].
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar: Cash purse ₹25,000, Tamrapatra, Angavastram; eligibility age ≤ 40 years [2].
2024–25 cycle scale: 7 Fellows, 108 Awardees across Music, Dance, Theatre, Traditional/Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/Theatre, Puppetry, and Overall Contribution/Scholarship [1].
Selection forum: SNA General Council meeting (22–26 March 2026, New Delhi) [1].

Social / Cultural: Awards in Traditional/Folk/Tribal and Puppetry categories protect intangible cultural heritage and marginal performance traditions [1][2].
Administrative: Demonstrates autonomous-body model of cultural governance — selection by peer General Council insulates the process from political executive [2].
Historical: SNA precedes Sahitya Akademi (1954) and Lalit Kala Akademi (1954); together the three National Akademis form India's post-independence cultural architecture [2].
Ethical / Governance: Combined two-year announcement (2024 + 2025 in one cycle) reflects backlog clearance — a recurring SNA practice (2022 & 2023 were also clubbed) [1][3].

22–26 March 2026: SNA General Council meeting at New Delhi, selections made [1].
10 June 2026: Ministry of Culture announces 2024 & 2025 lists [1].
6 March 2024: President Murmu conferred 2022–23 awards at Vigyan Bhawan (previous cycle) [3].

SNA is India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama — established 1952–53 [2].
SNA is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture (not Ministry of Education) [2].
Akademi Ratna Fellowships are capped at 40 living fellows at any time [3].
Akademi Ratna cash purse = ₹3 lakh; Akademi Puraskar = ₹1 lakh; Yuva Puraskar = ₹25,000 [2][3].
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar instituted in 2006; age limit 40 years [2].
2024 & 2025 cycle: 7 Fellows and 108 Akademi Puraskar awardees announced on 10 June 2026 [1].
Selecting body = General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi [1].
Award categories include Puppetry and Overall Contribution/Scholarship in Performing Arts [1].
Honour comprises Tamrapatra + Angavastram + cash purse [3].
Previous cycle (2022 & 2023) covered 6 Fellows + 92 Puraskar + 80 Yuva Puraskar [3][4].

GS-I: Indian Heritage and Culture — Salient aspects of Art Forms.
GS-II: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies (autonomous cultural bodies); Government policies for vulnerable sections (folk/tribal artists).
Possible stems:
"Examine the role of the three National Akademis in safeguarding India's performing-arts heritage post-Independence."
"Awards like Akademi Ratna recognise excellence but the structural challenges facing folk and tribal performers require policy beyond honours. Discuss."
"Discuss the institutional design of Sangeet Natak Akademi as a model of autonomous cultural governance."

Sahitya Akademi & Lalit Kala Akademi (1954) — sister National Akademis [2].
Padma Awards & Bharat Ratna — civilian honours hierarchy.
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List — Indian inscriptions (Kutiyattam, Ramlila, Kalbelia, Durga Puja etc.).
Ministry of Culture schemes — Scheme for Safeguarding Intangible Heritage, Guru-Shishya Parampara.
National School of Drama (NSD) & Kalakshetra Foundation — performing-arts institutions.
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
GI Tag for performing arts crafts (instruments, costumes).
Sangeet Natak Akademi's Tagore Akademi Ratna (2011 centenary) — special honour.

Ministry confusion: SNA is under Ministry of Culture, NOT Ministry of Education or Information & Broadcasting [2].
Statutory vs. autonomous: SNA is a registered society, not a statutory body — no enabling Act [2].
Fellowship cap is 40 living fellows, not 40 per year [3].
Yuva Puraskar named after Ustad Bismillah Khan (shehnai maestro, Bharat Ratna 2001), not after a dancer or playwright [2].
Do not confuse Akademi Ratna (SNA fellowship) with Bharat Ratna (highest civilian award).
Conferring authority = President of India; selecting body = SNA General Council — distinct roles [1][3].