Recognition of Global Leadership About the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar
• Both awards highlight Modi’s statesmanship, resilience in • Instituted in: 2006
the face of global challenges, and commitment to human • Eligibility: Artists up to the age of 40 years.
solidarity. • Purpose: To recognize and motivate young talent in the
• Modi’s actions during the pandemic, particularly the performing arts and promote India’s rich cultural
provision of vaccines and other forms of support, are heritage.
central to the recognition by both nations. Award Components
• The awards reflect shared values between India, Guyana, • Cash Prize: ₹25,000/-
and Dominica, such as democracy, resilience, and unity in • Plaque
addressing global issues like climate change and • Angavastram
sustainable development. The award is conferred annually to celebrate the exceptional
contribution of young artists in preserving and innovating
Future Implications
traditional and modern performing arts.
• These awards underscore the growing influence of India
in global diplomacy, particularly in the Caribbean and Awards Ceremony and Post-Event Highlights
South-South cooperation. Award Ceremony Details
• Modi’s contributions to healthcare, education, and • Date and Time: 22nd November 2024, 11 A.M.
climate resilience have strengthened India’s global • Venue: Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New
standing and bilateral ties with these nations. Delhi
Presided by
Upcoming Recognition
• Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi
• Barbados is set to confer its top award on Modi, bringing
• Smt. Uma Nanduri, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture
his international awards tally to 19.
Performing Arts Festival
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar For 2022 and 2023 The award ceremony will be followed by a festival of
performing arts featuring the awardees.
The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (UBKUP) is a • Dates: 22nd–26th November 2024
prestigious award instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi • Venues:
in 2006 to honor outstanding young performing artists across 1. Meghdoot Theatre Complex, Rabindra Bhawan,
India. Named after Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, the Copernicus Marg, New Delhi
award aims to encourage and motivate young practitioners in 2. Abhimanch Theatre, National School of Drama,
music, dance, drama, folk and tribal arts, puppetry, and other Bhawalpur House, New Delhi
performing arts. 3. Vivekanand Auditorium, Kathak Kendra,
On 22nd November 2024, Union Minister of Culture and Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, will confer the Significance of the Award
awards for the years 2022 and 2023 in a special ceremony at The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar plays a pivotal role
the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The in preserving India’s diverse artistic traditions and promoting
ceremony will be presided over by Dr. Sandhya Purecha, innovation within traditional frameworks. The award ensures
Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Smt. Uma Nanduri, that young artists are recognized and supported for their
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture. efforts in showcasing India’s cultural richness globally.
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar recipients for 2022 and 2023:
Year Field of Activity Name Specialization
2022 Music Samit Mallick Hindustani Vocal
Samarth Janve Hindustani Vocal
Sangeet Mishra Hindustani Instrumental – Sarangi
Partho Roy Choudhury Hindustani Instrumental – Santoor
K. Gayatri Carnatic Vocal
I. Sweta Prasad Carnatic Vocal
B. Anantha Krishnan Carnatic Instrumental – Violin
Sahana S.V Carnatic Instrumental – Veena
Manoj Rai Creative & Experimental Music
Other Major Traditions of Music (Sugam
Nandini Rao Gujar
Sangeet)
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Year Field of Activity Name Specialization
Dance Mandakranta Roy Bharatanatyam
Kadam Parikh Kathak
Urmika Maibam Manipuri
T. Reddi Lakshmi Kuchipudi
Arupa Gayatri Panda Odissi
Dimpee Baishya Sattriya
Akshara M Das Mohiniattam
Pradyumna Kumar Mohanta Chhau
Mingma D. Lepcha Creative & Experimental Dance
Aparna Nangiar Nangiarkoothu
Theatre Beluru Raghunandan Playwriting
Ifra Mushtaq Kak Direction
Harishankar Ravi Direction
Harwinder Singh Acting
Kumar Ravikant Acting
Siddhi Upadhye Acting
Mukunda Nath Mime
Sangeet Shrivastava Allied Theatre Arts – Lighting
Traditional/Folk/Tribal and
Lata Tiwari & Sanjay Datt Panday Folk Music & Dance (Uttarakhand)
Puppetry
Chow Saratham Namchoom Folk Music (Arunachal Pradesh)
Sampriya Pooja Folk Music & Dance (Chhattisgarh)
Suryawanshi Pramila Kautikrao Folk Dance Lavani (Maharashtra)
Kumar Uday Singh Folk Dance (Bihar)
Nasarullah EPI Folk Dance (Lakshadweep)
Binita Devi Puppetry (Assam)
Mahesh Aba Satarkar Folk Dance (Goa)
Vasava Mukeshbhai M. Folk Dance (Gujarat)
Gulzar Ahmad Bhat Folk Dance (Jammu & Kashmir)
Moirangthem Kendra Singh Nata Sankirtan (Manipur)
Overall Contribution Anuthama Murali Overall Contribution in Performing Arts
2023 Music Anuja Zokarkar Hindustani Vocal
Monika Soni Hindustani Vocal
Rishi Shankar Upadhyay Hindustani Instrumental – Pakhawaj
Sarang Rajan Kulkarni Hindustani Instrumental – Sarod
S. R. Vinay Sharva Carnatic Vocal
Ramakrishnan Murthy Carnatic Vocal
Akshay Anantapadmanabhan Carnatic Instrumental – Mridangam
Saikhom Pinky Devi Creative & Experimental Music
Satyavathi Mudavath Creative & Experimental Music
Nagesh Shankarrao Adgaonkar Other Major Traditions of Music (Abhang)
Dance Apoorva Jayaraman Bharatanatyam
Meghranjani Medhi Kathak
Kalamandalam Vipin Sankar Kathakali
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Year Field of Activity Name Specialization
Pukhrambam Reepa Devi Manipuri
Muramalla Surendra Nadh Kuchipudi
Debasis Pattnaik Odissi
Mukunda Saikia Barbayan Sattriya
Vidya Pradeep Mohiniattam
Sunita Mahato Chhau
Venkateshwaran Kuppuswamy Music for Dance
Theatre Priyadarshini Mishra Playwriting
Bendang Walling Direction
Suvojit Bandyopadhyay Direction
Rutuja Rajan Bagwe Acting
Vipan Kumar Acting
Shruti Singh Acting
Mallikarjuna Rao Bachala Allied Theatre Arts – Make-up
Puneet Dimari & Amit Khanduri Ramleela (Uttarakhand)
Traditional/Folk/Tribal and
Angadi Bhaskar Dappalu (Telangana)
Puppetry
Alok Bishoyi Folk Dance & Music (Odisha)
M. Prakash Folk Dance (Puducherry)
Padma Dolker Folk Music & Dance (Ladakh)
Sukhram Pahan Folk Music (Jharkhand)
Yusuf Khan Mewati Jogi Folk Music (Rajasthan)
Kalamandalam Ravisankar T S Folk Instrument (Chenda, Kerala)
Dixit Kushal Manvantray Folk Dance (Gujarat)
Priyanka Shakti Thakur Traditional Music (Maharashtra)
Anureet Pal Kaur Folk Music (Punjab)
Charu Sharma Folk Music (Himachal Pradesh)
Overall Contribution Laxminarayan Jena Overall Contribution in Performing Arts
116th PM Man Ki Baat • An initiative to gather 2,000 youth leaders from across
This comprehensive speech from Mann Ki Baat touches upon India to present ideas for India’s development, inspiring
various inspiring themes, initiatives, and the spirit of new participation in politics and leadership.
collective efforts in India. Here’s a summary of its key 3. Digital Inclusion:
highlights: • Examples of young changemakers like Virendra
1. Youth Empowerment and NCC (National Cadet Corps): (Lucknow) and Mahesh (Bhopal) aiding elderly citizens
• Celebrating NCC Day, the PM emphasized the with Digital Life Certificates and digital payments.
transformative impact of NCC on youth, instilling • Awareness campaigns against cyber fraud like “Digital
discipline, leadership, and service. Arrest” scams.
• NCC’s reach has expanded to over 20 lakh cadets, with a
significant increase in girl cadets (40%). 4. Libraries and Education:
• A call for maximum youth participation in NCC for • Creative libraries like Prakrith Arivagam (Chennai) and
personality development and nation-building. others in Bihar and Hyderabad are fostering a love for
books among children and aiding competitive exam
2. ‘Vikasit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’:
preparation.
• Scheduled for 11-12 January 2024 at Bharat Mandapam,
• Libraries are becoming hubs for creativity and social
Delhi, coinciding with Swami Vivekananda’s 162nd birth
anniversary. transformation.
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5. Indian Diaspora and History: Top Indian Universities in the Interdisciplinary Science
• The Indian diaspora’s contributions in countries like Rankings 2025
Guyana and Oman are being documented through The following table shows the top Indian universities ranked
projects preserving their historical and cultural legacies. in the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025. Indian
• The PM invited citizens to share stories of Indian universities are recognized for their research output,
immigrants with #IndianDiasporaStories. reputation, and focus on addressing global problems.
6. ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign: Rank University
• Over 100 crore trees planted in just five months under 42 Anna University
this campaign, now gaining international traction.
65 VIT University
• Stories of remarkable contributions, such as 12 lakh trees
84 SRM Institute of Science and Technology
planted in 24 hours in Indore and unique women-led
efforts in Rajasthan. 92 KIIT University
98 University of Delhi
7. Sparrow Conservation:
• Campaigns like Kudugal Trust in Chennai and Early Bird in 99 Lovely Professional University
Mysuru are promoting biodiversity and reviving the 101 Amity University, Noida
sparrow population, engaging children creatively. 102 Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences
8. Cleanliness and Sustainability: 103 Jamia Millia Islamia
• A special Swachhata Abhiyan has led to clutter-free 105 Jawaharlal Nehru University
government offices and waste-to-wealth innovations.
• Examples include Akshara and Prakriti from Mumbai Top Global Universities in the Interdisciplinary Science
creating fashion items from fabric scraps and Kanpur’s Rankings 2025
Ploggers Group converting garbage into tree guards. The rankings also feature universities from across the world,
including the United States and Singapore, which continue to
Key Messages: lead the field of interdisciplinary research.
• The PM underscored the importance of youth in shaping
a developed India. Rank University Country
• Citizens were encouraged to take proactive roles in 1
Massachusetts Institute of United
conservation, sustainability, digital inclusion, and cultural Technology States
preservation. United
2 Stanford University
• Collective efforts and creativity were celebrated as States
powerful tools for transformation. 3 National University of Singapore Singapore
This episode is a testament to how grassroots initiatives, United
4 California Institute of Technology
guided by inspired leadership, are creating significant impact States
across India. United
5 Duke University
States
Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science United
6 University of Minnesota
Rankings 2024 States
India has made great progress in global university rankings, 7 Wageningen University & Research Netherlands
especially in Interdisciplinary Science, as shown in the Times University of California, Santa United
8
Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings Barbara States
2025. This ranking highlights universities that are leading the 9 Nanyang Technological University Singapore
way in research and collaboration across different subjects to United
10 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
tackle global challenges like climate change, health issues, States
and technology developments.
India’s Growing Role in Global Academia
Why This is Important for India India is becoming a key player in global academic research,
India has emerged as the most represented country in the with many universities focusing on interdisciplinary studies.
rankings, with 65 Indian universities making it to the list. This This involves combining engineering, life sciences, computer
reflects India’s growing role in interdisciplinary research, science, and other fields to solve important challenges like
where universities bring together knowledge from different healthcare, environmental sustainability, and technology
fields to solve complex issues. innovation.
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