Central Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat distributed the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Award in New Delhi.

At a special ceremony held in New Delhi, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gazendra Singh Shekhawat presented the Ustad Bismillah Khan Youth Award for the year 2024‑2025. The award aims to encourage young artists who have achieved excellence in Indian classical music and to provide them opportunities to perform on international stages. Various music academies, classical music associations and senior officials of the Ministry of Culture were present at the award ceremony, praising the contributions of young talent.

The Ustad Bismillah Khan Youth Award is named in honor of India’s great classical shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, who elevated shehnai music to global prominence during his lifetime. The award was instituted in 2015 and since then, every two years it is conferred in two categories—vocal and instrumental—on five young artists in each category. Winners receive financial assistance, musical instruments, and opportunities to perform on national and international platforms organized by the Ministry. This year’s awardees include emerging names in classical sitar, tabla, bamboo flute and classical vocal music, whose work was meticulously evaluated by a panel of experts.

Minister Shekhawat said that the advancement of young artists is the key to safeguarding India’s cultural heritage for the future. He also noted that the Ministry is planning, under a new initiative, to provide artist training, foster international collaborations, and use digital platforms to bring their work to wider audiences. This initiative will not only preserve classical music but also provide an effective platform for the younger generation to connect with their cultural roots.