Public voting is live at www.indianoftheyear.com across eight categories
CNN-News18’s flagship IP, ‘Indian of the Year’, one of the country’s most credible, anticipated and sought-after news awards, returns for its 16th edition. Voting for this year’s awards is now open at www.indianoftheyear.com, inviting viewers across the country to back the individuals they believe are shaping India’s future.
Under the theme ‘The Ones Defining Tomorrow’, this edition of CNN-News18 Indian of the Year continues its tradition of celebrating people who inspire the country to dream bigger, aim higher and keep moving forward through their work and conviction. Since 2006, the awards have brought together voices from diverse fields, recognising achievements that go beyond their own fields and speak to the India of tomorrow.
Nominees this year compete across eight categories: Entertainment, Sports, Youth Icon, Business, Rising Sports Star, Global Indian, Iconic Woman Achiever and Climate Warrior.
The nominees across the eight categories are:
Entertainment: Jim Sarbh (Made in India: A Titan Story), Imtiaz Ali (Main Vaapas Aaunga), Dhanush (Actor & Director), Shreya Ghoshal (Singer), Vishal Chaturvedi (Hanuman Ansh)
Sports: Suryakumar Yadav (Cricket), R Vaishali (Chess), Women’s 4×400 Relay Team (Kiran Pahal, Poovamma Machettira, Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj), Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting), Neeru Dhanda (Shooting)
Youth Icon: Samay Raina (Comedian), Mamitha Baiju (Actor), Sai Abhyankkar (Music Composer), Reble (Rapper & Singer), Dharna Durga (Digital Creator)
Business: Peyush Bansal (Lenskart), Mukund Jha and Madhav Jha (Emergent), Uday Kotak (Kotak Securities), Vaishali Nigam Sinha (Renew), Aman Sanger (SpaceX AI)
Rising Sports Star: Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Cricket), Aayush Shetty (Badminton), Yastika Bhatia (Cricket), Anahat Singh (Squash), Sakshi Chaudhary (Boxing)
Global Indian: Vikas Khanna (Celebrity Master Chef), Gaurav Gupta (Premier Couturier), Kunal Shah (CEO, WhatsApp Inc.), Priyanka Chopra (Actor and Entrepreneur), Srikant M Datar (Economist and Dean, Harvard Business School)
Iconic Woman Achiever: Sufiya Sufi (Ultra Distance Runner), Diana Pundole (Race Car Driver), Bhawana Kanth (Fighter Pilot), Kavitha Subramanian (Co-founder, Upstox), Garima Arora (Michelin-starred Chef)
Climate Warrior: Pooja Pal (Innovating against Air Pollution), Sharanya Mehta (Saving Water through Innovation), Bijiyashanti Tongbram (Turning Waste into Textiles), Bittu Tabahi (Reviving Polluted Rivers), Sumer Bhati (Protecting Thar Grasslands)
Over the years, Indian of the Year has become synonymous with recognising individuals and institutions who have made an indelible mark on India. Its distinguished list of honourees includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah Rukh Khan, Neeraj Chopra, Virat Kohli, Viswanathan Anand, A. R. Rahman, ISRO, among others.
Talking about the upcoming event, Rahul Shivshankar, Editorial Affairs Director, CNN-News18, said, “CNN-News18 Indian of the Year is a true embodiment of the connection between the channel and its audience, with viewers playing an integral role in recognising those who have made a meaningful impact in their respective fields. Thoughtfully curated and built on a legacy spanning more than a decade, IOTY continues to evolve with every edition. We strive to make it more relevant, inclusive and reflective of the changing aspirations, interests and achievements of India, while staying true to the values and credibility that have defined the property over the years.”
Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, said, “For more than a decade, Indian of the Year has been celebrating personalities who are making India proud, both nationally and internationally, while inspiring generations, including Gen Z, in countless ways. We are proud to cherish their journeys, acknowledge the challenges they have overcome and take a moment to appreciate their remarkable achievements. IOTY is truly reflective of the India we live in today, recognising individuals who have dared to dream bigger, pushed boundaries and created an impact that goes beyond their own fields. As we enter the 16th edition, we are happy to continue our association with RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, who have partnered with us year after year in celebrating these remarkable individuals. Their continued association reflects the strength and enduring relevance of Indian of the Year.”
As the voting window is open, the spotlight is on the audience as India gets to choose the stories, achievements and individuals it believes deserve to be celebrated. Vote for your favourite nominees today at www.indianoftheyear.com.
The presenting partner of CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2026 is RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, with JK Tyre and Reliance Industries Ltd. as associate partners.