Imphal: President Droupadi Murmu on October 21 conferred the Lalit Kala Akademi National Award on Manipuri sculptor Nimai Singh Sarungbam for his teak wood sculpture Mudra-I.
Sarungbam, an Imphal-based artist and former principal of Imphal Art College, was among 20 artists who received the award at a joint ceremony for the 65th National Exhibition of Art and the 3rd Print Biennale India 2026 at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre.
The selection followed a nationwide process that received 6,175 entries from 2,495 artists across 27 states and Union Territories. A jury shortlisted 270 artworks for the exhibition, which is scheduled to remain open to the public until October 31.
Sarungbam hails from Yumnam Leikai in Imphal. He is the son of the late Sarungbam Tombi Singh and Sarungbam Ongbi Mema Devi.
He completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, where he graduated as a gold medallist, before pursuing a Master of Fine Arts specialising in sculpture.
Before receiving the national award, Sarungbam was honoured with the Manipur State Kala Akademi Award.