NDTV hosted the much-anticipated Indian Of The Year 2024, a grand celebration of excellence, courage, and innovation, recognizing individuals and groups who have left an indelible mark across diverse domains. Held in the national capital, the event brought together icons from politics, business, sports, entertainment, and beyond, spotlighting their remarkable contributions to shaping the nation’s future.
The glittering event witnessed the presence of industry stalwarts, cultural icons, and policymakers. The honourees were selected through a rigorous process led by an esteemed panel of experts, with Grant Thornton’s support as the trusted Consulting Partner. The evening was enriched by heartfelt acceptance speeches and memorable performances, reflecting India’s rich cultural tapestry and spirit of unity.
The event kick-started with the keynote address of Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister, Information & Broadcasting, Railways and Electronics & IT, GOI, in his address he quoted “Those who are not seen on TV or in headlines are also awarded here.”
Dr. S. Jaishankar Minister, External Affairs, GOI, conferred with the India First Award, in his address mentioned “It’s a good moment to be India’s External Affairs Minister,” He also added “Democracy has allowed cross-sections of the society equal representation – bringing to the fore voices from outside cities – and this has boosted India’s growth story.” Piyush Goyal, Minister, Commerce and Industry, GOI in his address spoke “The world is seeing the India story unfold. It’s a moment in history that we are privileged to be a part of.” Actor Rajkummar Rao clinched NDTV’s ‘Actor of the Year’ award, with the accolade presented by industrialist Srikanth Bolla, the real-life inspiration behind the actor’s portrayal in the biopic Srikanth.
Comedian, Actor & Entertainer, Kapil Sharma who won NDTV’s ‘Global Entertainer Of The Year’ Award quoted “Making people smile has become difficult now…but I feel a sense of belonging when I meet people, they feel like I am one of them”.
NDTV’s ‘Indian Of The Year’ Award was won by India’s Polling Booth Officers. Rajeev Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner who received the award said “Democracy Is Alive Because Of Poll Officers”
On the occasion, Sanjay Pugalia, NDTV’s Director and Editor-in-Chief quoted “NDTV Indian Of The Year is more than just an award; it is a recognition of the individuals who inspire the nation to dream bigger and work harder for a better tomorrow. We feel delighted when people tell us that NDTV Indian Of The Year can easily be referred as the private sector’s Padma award due to its rigour in recognizing the right visionaries and change agents of India.”
Here is the complete list of winners:
BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCL Technologies
CLIMATE IMPACT OF THE YEAR
Swati Nayak, Agricultural Scientist
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Hitesh Doshi, CMD, Waaree Energies
INDIA FIRST
Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister, External Affairs, GOI
SCIENCE ICON OF THE YEAR
Professor Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics
SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE YEAR
Namo Drone Didi Yojana
INDIA’S CENTURION
Gautam Hari Singhania, CMD, Raymond Group
INDIAN OF THE YEAR – ENERGY TRANSITION
Vijay Murugesh Nirani, Founder and Managing Director, TruAlt Bioenergy
YOUTH ICON OF THE YEAR
Ananya Panday, Actor
GOLD VISIONARY – THE REAL HERO OF INDIA
Mohammed Abdul Wohab and Sabitri Pal, SHIS Foundation.
BREAKOUT CELEBRITY OF THE YEAR
Shalini Passi, Philanthropist & Art Collector
HEALTH LEADER OF THE YEAR
Dr Gagandeep Kang, Adjunct Professor, CMC Vellore
ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Rajkummar Rao, Actor
SPORTS PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
India’s 2024 Paralympics Team
GLOBAL ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kapil Sharma, Comedian, Actor & Entertainer
NDTV INDIAN OF THE YEAR
India’s Polling Booth Officers