National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval was conferred the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award on Saturday for his contribution to strengthening India's national security.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah conferred the honour during a ceremony held in Pune on the occasion of the 106th death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, held on the Kataria High School ground in Mukundnagar.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, political leaders and others were present during the event.
Accepting the award, Doval expressed gratitude and said, "I am thankful for the award named after Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and accept it with humility."
Speaking on the occasion, Doval said, “I stayed in Pune for about a year to a year and a half before my father was transferred to the Army Headquarters in Delhi. I have forgotten many things from that period, but two memories remain vivid. The first is that every Tuesday my mother would take me to the Chaturshringi Temple. There, a thick, sweet traditional bread would be offered to the goddess along with other offerings. After returning home, we would eat the prasad, which I enjoyed very much. My mother had deep faith in the temple."
"The second memory is from my school, where it was customary to hold an assembly after the morning prayer. During the assembly, a senior teacher would speak for 10 to 15 minutes on topics such as morality, the lives of great personalities, the duties of students, or other inspiring subjects. One of our Hindi teachers, who was an excellent speaker, delivered a lecture on the life of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. That was my first introduction to Lokmanya Tilak, when I was around five years old, and it later sparked my interest in learning more about him and his life in Pune. I could never have imagined that, 76 years later, I would return to the same city to receive an award instituted in his memory. It is truly my good fortune," the NSA added.
Why Ajit Doval Was Chosen
The award, instituted by the Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust, selected Doval for his work to strengthen India’s national security establishment. The NSA was selected for his contribution and outstanding service to the nation, the trust chairman Rohit Tilak had earlier said while making the announcement.
Doval remains India's longest-serving National Security Advisor and has held a significant presence in the country's strategic policy and operational matters. He's believed to be involved in a variety of major operations from the Balakot airstrikes to Operation Sindoor and Surgical Strikes in 2016.
About The Lokmanya Tilak National Award
Lokmanya Tilak National Award was started in 1983 and is presented each year to an individual in recognition of outstanding contribution to the nation.
Veteran socialist SM Joshi was the first recipient of the honour. Over the years, various distinguished personalities, including former President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, have received the award. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was the recipient of the award in 2025.