Assam names Usha Mangeshkar as first winner of new Bhupen Hazarika National Award
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the inaugural honour in New Delhi as the state concludes centenary celebrations for the legendary musician.
Usha Mangeshkar to receive inaugural honour
Veteran playback singer Usha Mangeshkar will receive the inaugural Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced following a cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will confer the honour in New Delhi on 29 November at Bharat Mandapam during the grand finale of the legendary musician's birth centenary celebrations.
Instituted to preserve and promote the artistic legacy of the composer and filmmaker, the national award carries a cash prize of ‣10 lakh and a citation. The Assam government will confer the award every three years on national or international figures across music, arts, and cinema who carry forward the cultural vision of the "Bard of the Brahmaputra".
A national celebration of India's artistic heritage
The ceremony in the capital will bring together between 5,000 and 7,000 participants from across the country. Prominent artistes, including Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shankar Mahadevan, and Shreya Ghoshal, will present musical tributes. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the year-long centenary celebrations last year, releasing a commemorative ‣100 coin and a dedicated biography, reflecting the government's continued focus on giving national prominence to regional cultural icons.
Alongside the inaugural national award, the Assam cabinet approved increasing the prize money for the prestigious Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award from ‣10 lakh to ‣15 lakh, reinforcing its position as a premier cultural honour.
Assam state civilian awards for 2025
The cabinet also finalised the recipients for the 2025 Assam Civilian Awards, recognising excellence across healthcare, wildlife conservation, culture, and sports.
| Award | Recipient | Field of achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Asom Baibhav | Dr Harsha Bhattacharjee | Founder of Sri Sankardeva Nethralaya, healthcare |
| Asom Saurabh | Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma | Wildlife veterinarian and conservationist |
| Asom Saurabh | Nuruddin Ahmed | Sculptor and set designer |
| Asom Saurabh | Pulak Banerjee | Playback singer |
| Asom Saurabh | Purnima Devi Barman | Wildlife conservationist |
Industrial expansion and local governance
Reflecting Assam's ongoing economic development, the cabinet approved a ‣303.69 crore investment proposal from M/s Weetek Plastic Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Welspun Group. The company will establish a plastics manufacturing unit at Rangia in Kamrup district, creating direct employment for 300 people.
The state leadership also amended the Assam Mineral Regulation and Dealers Rules, introducing grade-based classifications for extracted limestone. The updated rules allow the government to collect proportional royalties aligned with mineral quality rather than a flat rate. Furthermore, the state election commission has been advised to hold elections for the Mising and Sonowal Kachari autonomous councils within November.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bhupen Hazarika National Award cash prize | ‣10 lakh | Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma |
| Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award cash prize | ‣15 lakh | Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma |
| Welspun Group investment in Rangia | ‣303.69 crore | Assam Cabinet statement |
| Direct jobs created by Welspun project | 300 | Assam Cabinet statement |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Assam Cabinet | Approved the award institution, civilian award recipients, and investment proposals. |
| Bhupen Hazarika | Late legendary singer and composer in whose memory the national award was instituted. |
| Usha Mangeshkar | Selected as the inaugural recipient of the Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award. |
