NSA Ajit Doval conferred Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune
Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the Lokmanya Tilak National Award to National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval at a ceremony in Pune on August 1, 2026. The award recognises Mr. Doval's significant contributions to national security, according to the Tilak Smarak Trust, which administers the honour.
The 81-year-old NSA has had a distinguished career, handling sensitive assignments in regions such as Mizoram, Sikkim, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. He also served in diplomatic roles at Indian missions in Islamabad and London, bringing a wide range of experience to his current position.
Mr. Doval is India's longest-serving National Security Advisor. He has represented the country as special representative for the India-China boundary talks and played a key role in diplomatic efforts that helped resolve the Doklam standoff. His work has been instrumental in shaping India's security policies.
The Lokmanya Tilak Award was instituted in 1983 and is presented every year on August 1, the death anniversary of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak. It honours individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the nation's progress and development. The first recipient was socialist leader S.M. Joshi.
Over the years, the award has been conferred on several eminent personalities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and Indira Gandhi, former president Pranab Mukherjee, and veteran politician Sharad Pawar. This year's selection of Mr. Doval places him among these distinguished figures.
During his visit to Pune, Mr. Shah also paid tributes to Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe on the occasion of his birth anniversary. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, along with other dignitaries, joined Mr. Shah at the Sarasbaug area to offer flowers at Sathe's statue.
Annabhau Sathe, born on August 1, 1920, was a legendary social reformer, folk poet, and a pioneer of Dalit literature in Maharashtra. His birth anniversary coincides with the date of Tilak's death anniversary, adding significance to the day's events.
