The 11th Sant Ishwar Samman 2026 honoured 18 individuals and organisations for their dedicated and selfless service at Mavalankar Hall, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan attended the national ceremony as the chief guest and congratulated the award recipients.
He highlighted India’s longstanding tradition of service and said recognising those who work for society without personal gain is a tribute to the wider community.
The Sant Ishwar Samman aims to bring recognition to individuals and organisations delivering grassroots-level work in areas including research, art, culture, education, and women and child development.
This year, the Sant Ishwar Special Award was presented to pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his actions during a serious emergency.
According to the organisers, Machchhar demonstrated exceptional presence of mind and helped ensure the safety of all 174 passengers on board.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment BL Verma and former BJP national secretary Sunil Deodhar were among the dignitaries present at the ceremony.
They appreciated the contributions of the award recipients and service organisations.
Sant Ishwar Samman Foundation Director Kapil Khanna said the foundation has spent the past 11 years bringing attention to service contributors working in remote and difficult areas across India.
The foundation has so far honoured 168 individuals and organisations for their contributions to selfless service, social responsibility and nation-building.
The annual ceremony seeks to highlight such contributions and encourage a culture of compassion, social responsibility and service.
The 2026 edition brought together individuals and organisations working across different sectors, recognising their efforts to create a wider social impact.
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
