Assam Cabinet hikes Sankardev Award prize to ₹15 lakh, names 2025 civilian honour recipients
Synopsis
The Assam Cabinet under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has raised the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award's cash prize to ₹15 lakh and announced the 2025 civilian honour recipients — spanning wildlife conservation, cricket, football, manuscript preservation, and entrepreneurship — with the ceremony set for December.
Key Takeaways
The Assam Cabinet on 23 October 2026 hiked the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award cash prize to ₹15 lakh .
Harsha Bhattacharjee has been selected for the Assam Baibhav , the highest state civilian honour.
Assam Saurav awardees include conservationist Purnima Devi Barman , wildlife expert Kushal Konwar Sarma , arts director Nuruddin Ahmed , and singer Pulak Banerjee .
Assam Gaurav recipients include footballer Holicharan Narzary , cricketer Simu Das , and manuscript conservationist Dhanjit Talukdar , among others.
All honours will be conferred at a ceremony in December 2025 .
The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Friday, 23 October 2026, approved a significant enhancement in the cash component of the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award to ₹15 lakh, reinforcing the state government's commitment to honouring contributions to culture, society, and public life. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur, Guwahati.
The Sankardev Award Enhancement
The revised cash prize elevates one of Assam's most prominent cultural honours to a new benchmark. The award carries the legacy of Srimanta Sankardev, the 15th–16th century saint-scholar, reformer, poet, and cultural icon whose transformative contributions to the Bhakti movement, Assamese literature, music, and theatre continue to shape the state's identity. The enhancement reflects a deliberate effort to bring the monetary recognition in line with the award's cultural stature.
Assam Baibhav, Saurav and Gaurav: 2025 Awardees Announced
Alongside the prize revision, the Cabinet finalised recipients for three tiers of state civilian honours — Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurav, and Assam Gaurav — for the year 2025.
Harsha Bhattacharjee has been selected for the Assam Baibhav, the highest of the three distinctions.
The Assam Saurav honour will be conferred on four individuals: wildlife expert Kushal Konwar Sarma; arts director Nuruddin Ahmed; singer Pulak Banerjee; and conservationist Purnima Devi Barman, widely recognised for her work protecting the greater adjutant stork — locally called the hargila.
The Assam Gaurav category recognises a broader cross-section of contributors, including social worker Devi Prasad Bagrodia, footballer Holicharan Narzary, cricketer Simu Das, palm oil cultivator Harakanta Basumatary, manuscript conservationist Dhanjit Talukdar, and food and tourism entrepreneur Nibedita Yein.
Why These Awards Matter
The three-tier civilian honour system mirrors the spirit of India's national Padma awards, adapted to Assam's own cultural and developmental milestones. Notably, the 2025 list spans an unusually wide range of fields — from wildlife conservation and manuscript preservation to agriculture and sports — signalling an intent to move beyond purely cultural recognition. Purnima Devi Barman's inclusion, in particular, draws national attention: her grassroots campaign to save the hargila has drawn international acclaim and placed Assam on the global conservation map.
Ceremony and Next Steps
All recipients are scheduled to receive their honours at a formal ceremony in December 2025, according to the Cabinet decisions announced on Friday. The Assam government is expected to release detailed citations for each awardee ahead of the event.
Point of View
But the signal it sends about state priorities is worth noting. The 2025 civilian honours list is more diverse than previous years — spanning hargila conservation, palm oil farming, manuscript archiving, and football — which suggests a conscious effort to broaden the definition of public contribution beyond traditional cultural elites. Purnima Devi Barman's recognition is the standout: her hargila work has attracted global conservation attention, and the award brings Assam's grassroots conservation story into sharper relief. Whether the state follows recognition with policy support for these individuals' fields remains the real measure of intent.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award and what is its new prize amount?
The Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award is one of Assam's most prestigious cultural honours, named after the 15th–16th century saint-scholar and reformer Srimanta Sankardev. The Assam Cabinet has enhanced its cash prize to ₹15 lakh, up from the earlier amount.
Who has been selected for the Assam Baibhav award in 2025?
Harsha Bhattacharjee has been selected for the Assam Baibhav, the highest of Assam's three state civilian honours for 2025.
Who are the Assam Saurav awardees for 2025?
The 2025 Assam Saurav awardees are wildlife expert Kushal Konwar Sarma, arts director Nuruddin Ahmed, singer Pulak Banerjee, and conservationist Purnima Devi Barman, known for her campaign to protect the greater adjutant stork.
When will the 2025 Assam civilian honours be presented?
All recipients of the Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurav, and Assam Gaurav honours are scheduled to receive their awards at a formal ceremony in December 2025, as announced by the Assam Cabinet.
Who are the Assam Gaurav awardees for 2025?
The Assam Gaurav category for 2025 includes social worker Devi Prasad Bagrodia, footballer Holicharan Narzary, cricketer Simu Das, palm oil cultivator Harakanta Basumatary, manuscript conservationist Dhanjit Talukdar, and food and tourism entrepreneur Nibedita Yein.
