New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday attended the award ceremony of the 65th National Exhibition of Art and the 3rd Print Biennale India 2026, recognising artists for their contributions to India’s contemporary visual arts and cultural heritage.
Organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi under the Ministry of Culture, the ceremony was held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Culture Ministry Secretary Vivek Aggarwal were among those present, along with artists, senior officials and members of the cultural fraternity.
The event celebrated artistic diversity and the role of visual arts in preserving India’s cultural traditions while encouraging new forms of creative expression.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu described art as a reflection of India’s culture, traditions and civilisational journey. She emphasised the need to preserve traditional art forms and highlighted printmaking as an important medium of artistic expression.
She also underscored the role of exhibitions and biennales in encouraging dialogue and the exchange of ideas among artists. The President appreciated the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to create opportunities for artists to showcase their work and reach wider audiences.
6,175 Artworks Submitted for National Exhibition
Highlighting the scale of this year’s National Exhibition of Art, Culture Ministry Secretary Vivek Aggarwal said the event received 6,175 artworks from 2,495 artists representing 27 states and Union Territories.
Of these, 270 artworks were selected for exhibition, while 20 artists were chosen for awards.
Aggarwal traced the journey of the Lalit Kala Akademi, established in 1954, and the National Exhibition of Art, which began at Jaipur House in 1955 with around 1,200 entries.
He said the Akademi continued to work towards promoting artistic experimentation, nurturing emerging talent and connecting artists with wider audiences. The Print Biennale, in particular, provides opportunities for Indian and international artists to exchange ideas and explore printmaking as a creative medium.
Art and Creative Economy
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat praised the Lalit Kala Akademi for providing a national platform for artists to present their work and showcase India’s artistic diversity.
He highlighted the distinctive perspectives and creative approaches reflected in individual artworks, noting that diverse forms of expression strengthen India’s artistic traditions. He also emphasised printmaking’s combination of technical skill and creative innovation.
Linking cultural development with the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, Shekhawat stressed the importance of India’s cultural wealth and creativity in the country’s development. He said incorporating artwork sales into the programme could help improve artists’ livelihoods and strengthen the creative economy.
As a gesture of welcome, Shekhawat presented the President with a Gond painting, reflecting India’s indigenous artistic traditions. A film tracing the history of the Lalit Kala Akademi and the evolution of the National Exhibition of Art since 1955 was also screened during the programme.
India Biennale 2026 from December 4
The Ministry of Culture will organise India Biennale 2026 from December 4, 2026, to March 21, 2027, across monuments and heritage sites in Delhi.
The initiative aims to bring contemporary art into dialogue with India’s historical spaces, offering artists opportunities to display their work while encouraging public engagement with art and heritage.
The award ceremony highlighted the importance of supporting artists, preserving traditional art forms and creating wider opportunities for contemporary visual arts to reach audiences in India and abroad.
