NDTV honours India’s Luminaries at Indian of the Year 2024 Gala

New Delhi: NDTV hosted the much-anticipated “Indian Of The Year 2024,” a prestigious event celebrating excellence, courage, and innovation. The awards recognized individuals and groups who have made remarkable contributions across diverse sectors, leaving a lasting impact on India’s progress. The event, held in the heart of the national capital, brought together influential figures from politics, business, sports, entertainment, and more, highlighting their exceptional achievements in shaping India’s future.

The glittering evening was attended by a host of industry stalwarts, cultural icons, and policymakers, who all came together to honor those who have significantly shaped the country. The honorees were carefully selected through a meticulous process, guided by a distinguished panel of experts, with Grant Thornton serving as the trusted Consulting Partner. The night was enriched with heartfelt acceptance speeches and stunning performances, reflecting India’s cultural richness and its spirit of unity.

The event commenced with a keynote address by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Railways, and Electronics & IT, Government of India. He shared, “Those who are not seen on TV or in headlines are also awarded here.”

Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs, Government of India, received the prestigious India First Award and expressed, “It’s a good moment to be India’s External Affairs Minister.” He also added, “Democracy has allowed cross-sections of society equal representation—bringing to the fore voices from outside cities—and this has boosted India’s growth story.”

Piyush Goyal, Minister for Commerce and Industry, GOI, spoke passionately, “The world is seeing the India story unfold. It’s a moment in history that we are privileged to be a part of.”

The award for Actor of the Year was presented to Rajkummar Rao, with industrialist Srikanth Bolla, the real-life inspiration for the actor’s portrayal in the biopic Srikanth, doing the honours.

Kapil Sharma, Comedian, Actor, and Entertainer, won the Global Entertainer Of The Year award and remarked, “Making people smile has become difficult now…but I feel a sense of belonging when I meet people, they feel like I am one of them.”

The prestigious NDTV Indian Of The Year award went to India’s Polling Booth Officers. Rajeev Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner, who accepted the award on behalf of the officers, stated, “Democracy Is Alive Because Of Poll Officers.”

In his address, Sanjay Pugalia, NDTV’s Director and Editor-in-Chief, reflected on the significance of the awards, saying, “NDTV Indian Of The Year is more than just an award; it is a recognition of individuals who inspire the nation to dream bigger and work harder for a better tomorrow. We feel delighted when people tell us that NDTV Indian Of The Year can easily be referred to as the private sector’s Padma award due to its rigor in recognizing the right visionaries and change agents of India.”

Complete List of Winners:

Business Leader of the Year: Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCL Technologies

Climate Impact of the Year: Swati Nayak, Agricultural Scientist

Entrepreneur of the Year: Hitesh Doshi, CMD, Waaree Energies

India First: Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister, External Affairs, GOI

Science Icon of the Year: Professor Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics

Social Impact of the Year: Namo Drone Didi Yojana

India’s Centurion: Gautam Hari Singhania, CMD, Raymond Group

Indian of the Year – Energy Transition: Vijay Murugesh Nirani, Founder & MD, TruAlt Bioenergy

Youth Icon of the Year: Ananya Panday, Actor

Gold Visionary – The Real Hero of India: Mohammed Abdul Wohab & Sabitri Pal, SHIS Foundation

Breakout Celebrity of the Year: Shalini Passi, Philanthropist & Art Collector