President Droupadi Murmu Presents Shilp Guru and National Handicrafts Awards for 2023 and 2024

On 9 December 2025, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Shilp Guru Awards and National Handicrafts Awards for 2023 and 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The awards were part of the National Handicrafts Week 2025, celebrated from 8 to 14 December, and organized by the Ministry of Textiles (MoT).

Union Minister Giriraj Singh and Minister of State Pabitra Margherita also attended the ceremony.

What are These Awards?

• National Handicrafts Awards: Started in 1965, these awards honour skilled craftspersons for their artistic talent and contribution to India’s cultural heritage.
• Shilp Guru Awards: Introduced in 2002, these are the highest national recognition for master artisans in India’s handicrafts sector.

In total, 48 awards were given for 2023–24, including 12 Shilp Guru Awards and 36 National Awards, with 2 special Design & Innovation Awards for artisan-designer collaborations.

Women Empowerment in Handicrafts

Among the awardees, 20 were women, reflecting the strong participation of women in this sector. In fact, 68% of the handicrafts workforce are women, contributing to over 3.2 million jobs across India.

Crafts and Artisans Recognized

Awardees represented diverse Indian crafts, including:

• Metalwork and Woodwork
• Hand-printed Textiles
• Pattachitra Painting
• Leather Puppetry
• Terracotta and Stone Carving
• Carpets and Cane-and-Bamboo Work

These awards highlight the importance of preserving traditional crafts while supporting artisans’ livelihoods.

Highlights of Shilp Guru Awards

2023 Shilp Guru Awardees:

• Ajit Kumar Das – Hand Painted Textiles, West Bengal
• Sudhir Kumar Maharana – Pattachitra Painting, Odisha
• D. Sivamma – Leather Puppets, Andhra Pradesh
• Dolon Kundu Mandal – Terracotta, West Bengal
• Khatri Gulamhusain Umar – Artistic Textiles (Tie & Dye), Gujarat
• Madhuri Mishra – Artistic Textiles (Batik Printing), Uttar Pradesh

2024 Shilp Guru Awardees:

• Kamlesh Sharma – Wood Craft, Rajasthan
• Subhash Arora – Metal Craft (Dhokra), Haryana
• Shaheen Anjum – Wood Craft (Jewellery Box), Delhi
• Mohammad Dilshad – Wood Carving (Sheesham Table), Uttar Pradesh
• Tarit Paul – Clay Modelling (Vishwarupa of Lord Krishna), West Bengal
• Shobharani Poddar – Jute Craft (Goddess Durga), West Bengal

Significance of Handicrafts in India

The handicrafts sector is not only a cultural treasure but also an economic driver:

• Supports rural livelihoods and women empowerment
• Promotes eco-friendly and sustainable crafts
• Benefits from GI tags, One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, and government programs under Vocal for Local
• GST reduction from 18% to 5% boosts exports, targeting Rs. 1 lakh crore by 2031–32

About the Ministry of Textiles

• Union Minister: Giriraj Singh (Begusarai, Bihar)
• Minister of State (MoS): Pabitra Margherita (Rajya Sabha, Assam)

The Ministry works to promote India’s traditional crafts, support artisans, and preserve the nation’s rich cultural heritage.