On 9 December 2025, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Shilp Guru Awards and National Handicrafts Awards for 2023 and 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Textiles (MoT), was part of the National Handicrafts Week 2025 celebrated from 8 to 14 December.
The event celebrated India’s rich artistic traditions, women empowerment, and the contribution of skilled artisans who preserve the nation’s cultural heritage.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh and Minister of State Pabitra Margherita were also present during the ceremony.
President Droupadi Murmu Presents Shilp Guru & National Handicrafts Awards 2023–24
What Are These Awards?
1. National Handicrafts Awards (since 1965):
Recognize skilled craftspersons for their excellence, innovation, and contribution to preserving India’s cultural heritage.
2. Shilp Guru Awards (since 2002):
The highest national honour for master artisans in the handicrafts sector, given for lifetime achievement and mastery of traditional art forms.
For 2023–24, a total of 48 awards were presented:
- 12 Shilp Guru Awards
- 36 National Awards
- 2 Special Design & Innovation Awards for artisan-designer collaborations.
Women Empowerment in Handicrafts
Out of the total awardees, 20 were women, reflecting the growing participation of women in India’s handicraft sector.
Currently, 68% of the handicrafts workforce are women, supporting over 3.2 million jobs across the country.
This demonstrates how handicrafts contribute significantly to women’s empowerment and rural livelihood development.
Crafts and Art Forms ReCulturecognized
The awardees represented a wide variety of traditional Indian crafts, including:
- Metalwork and Woodwork
- Hand-printed Textiles
- Pattachitra Painting
- Leather Puppetry
- Terracotta and Stone Carving
- Carpet Weaving, Cane & Bamboo Craft
These awards emphasize the need to preserve traditional craftsmanship while adapting to modern design trends.
Shilp Guru Awardees 2023
- Ajit Kumar Das – Hand Painted Textiles (West Bengal)
- Sudhir Kumar Maharana – Pattachitra Painting (Odisha)
- D. Sivamma – Leather Puppetry (Andhra Pradesh)
- Dolon Kundu Mandal – Terracotta (West Bengal)
- Khatri Gulamhusain Umar – Artistic Textiles (Tie & Dye, Gujarat)
- Madhuri Mishra – Artistic Textiles (Batik Printing, Uttar Pradesh)
Shilp Guru Awardees 2024
- Kamlesh Sharma – Wood Craft (Rajasthan)
- Subhash Arora – Metal Craft (Dhokra, Haryana)
- Shaheen Anjum – Wood Craft (Jewellery Box, Delhi)
- Mohammad Dilshad – Wood Carving (Sheesham Table, Uttar Pradesh)
- Tarit Paul – Clay Modelling (Vishwarupa of Lord Krishna, West Bengal)
- Shobharani Poddar – Jute Craft (Goddess Durga, West Bengal)
Significance of Handicrafts in India
The handicrafts sector plays a dual role — preserving India’s artistic legacy and boosting rural livelihoods.
Key highlights include:
- 3.2 million people employed, 68% women
- Promotion through GI tags, ODOP (One District One Product), and Vocal for Local initiatives
- Eco-friendly and sustainable nature of handicrafts
- GST reduction from 18% to 5%
- Export target: ₹1 lakh crore by 2031–32
These efforts align with India’s vision of supporting artisans and promoting heritage-based entrepreneurship.
About the Ministry of Textiles
- Union Minister: Giriraj Singh (Begusarai, Bihar)
- Minister of State: Pabitra Margherita (Rajya Sabha, Assam)
The Ministry of Textiles continues to support India’s handicraft and handloom sectors, enhance artisan welfare, and promote sustainable craft exports.
Exam-Oriented Key Facts
- Event: Shilp Guru & National Handicrafts Awards 2023–24
- Date: 9 December 2025
- Venue: Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
- Presented By: President Droupadi Murmu
- Organised By: Ministry of Textiles
- Total Awards: 48 (12 Shilp Guru, 36 National, 2 Design & Innovation)
- Women Awardees: 20
- Workforce in Handicrafts: 68% women
- National Handicrafts Awards Started: 1965
- Shilp Guru Awards Started: 2002
- Union Minister of Textiles: Giriraj Singh
- MoS for Textiles: Pabitra Margherita
Question & Answer
Q1. Who presented the Shilp Guru and National Handicrafts Awards 2023–24?
(a) Narendra Modi
(b) Droupadi Murmu
(c) Giriraj Singh
(d) Piyush Goyal
Answer: Droupadi Murmu
Q2. Where was the Shilp Guru and National Handicrafts Awards 2023–24 ceremony held?
(a) Rashtrapati Bhavan
(b) Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
(c) India Habitat Centre
(d) Bharat Mandapam
Answer: Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
Q3. When were the National Handicrafts Awards first instituted?
(a) 1955
(b) 1960
(c) 1965
(d) 1970
Answer: 1965
Q4. What is the total number of awards given for 2023–24?
(a) 36
(b) 40
(c) 48
(d) 50
Answer: 48
Q5. Which percentage of India’s handicraft workforce consists of women?
(a) 58%
(b) 62%
(c) 68%
(d) 72%
Answer: 68%
Q6. Who is the Union Minister of Textiles as of 2025?
(a) Smriti Irani
(b) Piyush Goyal
(c) Giriraj Singh
(d) Anurag Thakur
Answer: Giriraj Singh
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