Guwahati: The Assam government has announced the recipients of the 2025 Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurav and Assam Gaurav awards, the state’s highest civilian honours, following a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday.
Harsha Bhattacharyya has been selected for the Assam Baibhav, the state’s highest civilian award. The Assam Saurav award will go to four people: Kushal Kumar Sharma, Padma Shri awardee Nuruddin Ahmed, Pulak Banerjee and Purnima Devi Barman.
Ten individuals have been chosen for the Assam Gaurav Award. The recipients are Devi Prasad Bagrodia, Halicharan Narzary, Simu Das, Harkanta Basumatary, Dhanjit Takuldar, Nibedita Yein, Mayank Chakraborty, Jiten Charangphangsa, Tanumaya Sonar Biswakarma and Dikpal Lahon.
The NGO Kalong-Kapili and Padumpathar Agro Organic Company have also been selected for the award.
Renowned singer Usha Mangeshkar will receive the Bhupen Hazarika National Award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. The state government has also raised the cash prize for the Srimanta Sankardeva Award to Rs 15 lakh.
Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Sarma said the 2025 awards had not been presented last year, which led to the recipients being announced in 2026. He added that the names of the 2026 awardees would be announced next month.
A Cabinet sub-committee comprising Ranoj Pegu, Jayanta Malla Baruah, Ajanta Neog and Keshab Mahanta examined the nominations before deciding on the recipients.
The 2025 awards are scheduled to be presented in December 2026, while the 2026 awards will be conferred in February 2027.