President Murmu Presents National Exhibition of Art Awards

President Droupadi Murmu presented awards at the 65th National Exhibition of Art and the 3rd Print Biennale India 2026 on 21 October 2026 in New Delhi. The ceremony took place at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre and was organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi under the Union Ministry of Culture.

Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Exhibition

The Lalit Kala Akademi was established in 1954. Its National Exhibition of Art began in 1955, with its first edition held at Jaipur House and receiving about 1,200 entries. The Akademi provides a national platform for artists to exhibit work across visual art forms.

At the 2026 ceremony, Murmu presented awards to artists selected for the National Exhibition of Art and felicitated Grand Prize winners and Honourable Mentions of the Print Biennale India. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Culture Ministry Secretary Vivek Aggarwal attended. Shekhawat presented Murmu with a Gond painting.

Printmaking and Biennales

The 3rd Print Biennale India featured printmaking, an artistic medium that combines technical skills with experimentation. The event provided a platform for engagement among Indian and international artists. The exhibition and biennale brought together contemporary visual art and printmaking.

Murmu’s address covered art’s relationship with India’s culture, traditions and civilisational history, the preservation of traditional art forms, and public access to art. It also addressed support for rural artists and printmaking as a form of artistic expression.

Participation and Selection

The 65th National Exhibition of Art received 6,175 artworks submitted by 2,495 artists from 27 states and Union Territories. A total of 270 artworks were selected for display, and 20 artists were chosen for awards.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Lalit Kala Akademi was established in 1954.
• The first National Exhibition of Art was held in 1955 at Jaipur House.
• The 2026 National Exhibition selected 270 artworks from 6,175 submissions.
• The 3rd Print Biennale India was held alongside the 65th National Exhibition of Art.

India Biennale 2026 is scheduled to run from 4 December 2026 to 21 March 2027 at monuments and heritage sites across Delhi.