NDTV Indian of the Year 2026: An eminent 11-member jury to decide India’s most inspiring honours

NDTV Indian of the Year 2026 will bring some of India’s most distinguished minds to one of its most significant deliberations. Eleven eminent Indians, whose achievements span the courtroom, the boardroom, public policy, healthcare, literature, academia, the arts and the sports, will deliberate on November 3 to recognise the people and institutions that are India’s future.

The jury places an exceptional breadth of experience at the heart of one of NDTV’s signature events. Its members have shaped institutions, influenced national conversations, built enterprises and represented India on the world stage. Their collective achievements give extraordinary weight to the honour they will confer.

The jury comprises Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, Former Chief Justice of India; Dr. Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman, RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group; Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, Prasar Bharati; Karan Johar, Filmmaker and Producer, and Founder, Dharma Productions; Anupam Kher, Veteran Actor and Former Chairman, Film and Television Institute of India; Amitabh Kant, Former G20 Sherpa of India and Former CEO, NITI Aayog; Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited; Sanjeev Sanyal, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister; Author Amish Tripathi, Bharat N. Anand, Dean, NYU Stern School of Business; and tennis legend Leander Paes. 

Over the years, NDTV Indian of the Year has celebrated people and institutions whose contributions deserve a place in the country’s collective memory. Recognising accomplishments across public life, business, science, entertainment and sport, the platform reflects the many ways in which India progresses and the individuals and organisations that make that progress possible.

Rahul Kanwal, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, NDTV, said, “The stature of this jury reflects the ambition behind NDTV Indian of the Year. These are individuals who have shaped institutions, expanded possibilities and set exceptional standards in their fields. Each brings a distinct understanding of achievement and the responsibility that accompanies it. We are privileged to have their judgement guide this year’s honours as we celebrate contributions that matter to India and inspire confidence in its future.”

The purpose of the awards extends beyond celebrating success. It is also to recognise what that success makes possible - the opportunities it creates, the standards it raises and the ambitions it inspires in others. By bringing achievements from different disciplines into a shared national spotlight, NDTV Indian of the Year offers a broader perspective on the people and ideas shaping the country.

Shiv Aroor, Managing Editor, NDTV, said, “An achievement’s significance lies in the difference it makes - to a field, to a community or to the country. NDTV Indian of the Year gives us an opportunity to examine that impact and tell the stories behind it. A jury with this range of experience brings both depth and perspective to that responsibility. Its members understand the demands of excellence and can recognise contributions whose importance reaches far beyond an individual accomplishment.”

The 2026 edition will carry this legacy forward through a considered assessment of excellence across disciplines. The jury’s deliberations will be central to identifying contributions that combine distinction in their respective fields with a meaningful influence on the lives and aspirations of others.