Ajit Doval To Be Honoured With Lokmanya Tilak Award on August 1; Here's Why
NSA Ajit Doval has been chosen for the Lokmanya Tilak Award for his contributions to national security. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will present the honour in Pune on August 1, with Maharashtra leaders including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar expected to attend.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has been selected for the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the field of national security. The announcement was made by the Tilak Smarak Trust during a press conference on Monday, July 20. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will present the award to Doval at a formal ceremony scheduled in Pune on August 1.
Ceremony Details and Dignitaries
The award presentation will take place on the death anniversary of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a date traditionally marked by honouring individuals who have advanced the nation's progress. The upcoming event will be held in Pune. According to the trust's president, Dr Rohit Tilak, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, are expected to attend the ceremony as chief guests. NSA Ajit Doval Reveals Why He Doesn't Use a Phone, Video Goes Viral.
A Distinguished Career in National Security
Doval, 81, is India’s longest-serving National Security Advisor, having held the critical post since 2014. Over a decades-long career in intelligence and public service, he has handled sensitive assignments in regions including Mizoram, Sikkim, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, alongside diplomatic postings at Indian missions in Islamabad and London. "Doval has played a pivotal role in strengthening India's national security architecture through his contribution to counter-terrorism operations, strategic intelligence, border security and defence policy," Dr Rohit Tilak stated during the announcement. Additionally, Doval has served as India's special representative for boundary talks with China and played an integral diplomatic role during the resolution of the Doklam standoff. NSA Ajit Doval Targets Rahul Gandhi for Attacking Electoral System, Says ‘Threat of Disinformation Eroding Credibility of National Institutions’.
Background on the Lokmanya Tilak Award
Instituted in 1983 by the Tilak Smarak Trust, the Lokmanya Tilak Award was first conferred on socialist leader S. M. Joshi. The annual honor recognizes exceptional service and contributions to the nation's development. Previous recipients include a long list of prominent political and public figures, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, former President Pranab Mukherjee, and veteran politician Sharad Pawar.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 21, 2026 02:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
