Handicrafts Awards | 06 Dec 2025

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Textiles will confer the prestigious Handicraft Awards for 2023 and 2024 on 9th December 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, as part of National Handicrafts Week celebrations. 

Key Points 

• About: Instituted in 1965, the National Handicrafts Awards honour exceptional craftspersons who have enriched India’s cultural heritage through outstanding artistic excellence. 
• Dignitaries: The ceremony will be graced by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, presided over by the Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, with Shri Pabitra Margherita as Guest of Honour. 
• Shilp Guru Awards: Introduced in 2002, the Shilp Guru Awards represent the highest national recognition in the handicrafts sector, celebrating unparalleled mastery and innovation. 
• National Handicrafts Week: Observed annually from 8th–14th December, the Week includes exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, discussions, outreach and cultural programmes to celebrate India’s artisans and craft traditions. 
• Sectoral Importance: The handicrafts sector preserves centuries-old traditions, supports millions of livelihoods, especially in rural and semi-urban India—and plays a key role in national export earnings.