Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has announced the State Awards for Republic Day-2026, recognizing 56 individuals and institutions for their outstanding contributions in fields ranging from bravery, literature, arts, social service, public administration, sports, media and entrepreneurship.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The Award for Bravery has been conferred posthumously on Adil Hussain Shah of Hapatnar, Pahalgam, who will be honoured with a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a citation. PSI Nikhil Kumar of Greater Kailash (Jammu) has also been selected for the bravery award and will receive Rs 51,000 along with a citation.
Renowned writers and poets including Yashpaul Nirmal (Dogri), Ch Hassan Parwaz (Gojri), Parwaiz Manoos (Pahari), Kewal Krishan Sharma, Rattan Lal Sharma and late Fayaz Dilbar have been selected for excellence in literature.
In the Performing Arts category, acclaimed artists such as Tanya Dev Gupta (singer), Anil Tickoo (actor), Dr Ayash Arif (actor/director), Abdul Hamid Bhat (Rabab artist), Raman Singh Slathia (Dogri folk singer), Sunil Sharma (singer/music director), Ajay Kumar Sharma (theatre), Sudesh K Verma (producer/director) and Neeraj Verma (tabla artist) will be honoured.
Master artisans including Sajjad Hussain Bhat (Sozni), Bhushan Kesar (art educator), Mohammad Shafi Bhat (Kani) and Razia Mushtaq and Ishfar Ali (I/c Senior Craft Instructor, Paper Pulp) are among those recognized for excellence in arts and crafts.
For social reforms and empowerment, awards have been announced for Arhan Bagati (Founder, KYARI), Home for the Aged & Infirm, Mehjabeen Nabi (President/ Founder, Care Foundation & Charitable Trust, Srinagar) and Saadat Nasir Wani Sogami (Chairman, Team Red NGO, Kashmir) for their impactful social initiatives.
Senior officers including Dr V S Senthil Kumar (Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu), Tariq Ganai (MD, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation), Rohit Sharma (Additional Secretary, GAD), Pooja Wazir (SE, PWD R&B), and Dr Majid Jahangir (Principal, GMC Baramulla) have been selected for meritorious public service.
The Lifetime Achievement Award has been conferred posthumously on Mohammad Shafi Pandit, former IAS officer, acknowledging his long and distinguished service.
Outstanding sportspersons such as Aquib Nabi Dar (cricketer), Brijesh Sharma (cricketer), Rakesh Singh (Deaf Judo), Vishal Khajuria (Judo), Saleem Kumar (Wushu), Ravees Ahmad (Pencak Silat), Sudipti Khanna (Gymnastics), Mohammad Iqbal (athlete/coach) and Aiyza Naz Chib (skating) have been recognized.
The Outstanding Media Persons Award will be conferred on senior journalists including Avtar Krishan Bhat of Daily Excelsior, Vivek Suri (Executive Editor Digital at Himalayan Mail, Somil Abrol (Correspondent & Incharge, PTI Video Service, Jammu Bureau), Dinesh Manhotra (Freelance Journalist), Bilal Ahmad Bhat (Bureau Chief, ANI), Inayat Jahangir (Bureau Chief, PTI), Razia Noor (Correspondent, Dainik Jagran), Sunil Ji Bhat (Deputy Editor & Jammu Bureau Head, Aaj Tak & India Today), Ishfaq Gowhar Zargar (Executive Editor, Gulistan News), Syed Khalid Hussain (Senior Special Correspondent, ZEE News), Sarosh Kafeel (Bureau Chief, Kashmir News-18 JKLH) and Neeta Sharma (Senior Associate Editor, Indian Express Digital).
In the Industrial Entrepreneurship category, Mohammad Niyaz-ul-Kabir (GR8 Sports), Sheikh Yameen (Heaventure Adventures Private Limited) and Sunil Singh (Walnut grower, Kishtwar Gold Walnut Farm) have been selected.
All awardees will receive a cash prize of Rs 51,000 and a citation, unless otherwise specified.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
