Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards & Fellowship

Why in News?

The General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, New Delhi, at its meeting at New Delhi announced the annual awards and fellowships.

• Sangeet Natak Akademi – It is the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama is India’s apex national body for the performing arts.
• Established in – 1953.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Culture.
• Conferred by –
  • Akademi Fellowship & Awards – By the President of India.
  • Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar – By the Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi. 
• Representation – The Fellows & Awardees so selected represent the nation as a whole and belong to different States and Union Territories of India. 
• Range of Arts – The fellows and awardees represent
  • Music (Hindustani, Carnatic, contemporary)
  • Dance (classical and modern)
  • Drama (traditional and experimental theatre)
  • Folk & tribal arts
  • Puppetry
  • Allied theatre arts

Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna)

• It is the highest honour conferred by the Akademi without distinction of nationality, race, caste, religion, creed, or sex. 
• Criteria – Restrict any person below the age of 50 to ordinarily be considered for the honour. 
• 7 Fellows were elected for the year 2024-25.
• Names include – Ramlal Bareth, A.V. Anand, Rita Ganguly, Puru Dadheech, Chittaranjan Jyotishi, Pasumarthi Rattaiah Sarma, and Sudharani Raghupathy.
• It was restricted to 40 living Fellows at any time.
• Award value – Rs. 3 Lakhs plus Tamrapatra and Angavastram.

Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar)

• The Akademi is now over 70 years old; many practitioners, gurus, and scholars it has honoured represent India’s highest achievements in music, dance, and drama.
• Instituted – Originally as Presidential Awards in 1951 (for Hindustani & Carnatic music).
• Renamed – Became Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards after the Akademi’s formation in 1953.
• 108 artists selected across music, dance, theatre, folk, tribal, puppetry, and allied arts for 2024 & 2025.
• Award value – Rs. 1,00,000 plus Tamrapatra and Angavastram.

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

• Purpose – To encourage emerging talent in music, dance, theatre, and traditional art forms.
• 106 young artists honoured for 2024 and 2025.
• Award value – Rs. 25,000 plus Tamrapatra and Angavastram.

References

1. PIB | Announcement of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship & Awards
2. The Hindu | Sangeet Natak Akademi announces annual awards and fellowships