Overview

• The award ceremony in New Delhi capped the 64th National Exhibition of Art, which showcased 283 works across painting, sculpture, photography, and installation.
• Twenty artists received Lalit Kala Akademi National Awards, each carrying Rs 2 lakh along with a memento and a certificate.
• In a first for the exhibition, works were offered for purchase, with sales totaling Rs 1.35 crore across 74 artists, according to Culture Ministry secretary Vivek Aggarwal.
• President Droupadi Murmu described art as a spiritual practice and urged art lovers to bring works into their homes to help strengthen India’s cultural and economic identity.
• Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called the exhibition a blend of tradition and modernity and said enabling purchases helps artists receive fair value for their work.