CNN-News18 is set to host the 15th edition of its flagship ‘Indian of the Year Awards’ on November 28, beginning at 6 pm. The event, themed ‘India’s Invincible Icons’, will celebrate individuals whose groundbreaking achievements have shaped the nation’s journey and inspired millions over the past year, upholding the awards’ long-standing reputation for credibility and editorial integrity since 2006.
The annual celebration is a nationally awaited event, known for setting a benchmark in honouring distinguished personalities who have left a meaningful impact across diverse sectors.
This year’s winners will be selected by an eminent jury panel, comprising some of India’s most respected leaders, ensuring a rigorous and thoughtful evaluation process.
- Jury Members: Sanjiv Goenka, former CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice Indu Malhotra (Retd.), Prasoon Joshi, Mahesh Jethmalani, Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Amitabh Kant, Shefali Shah, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Gagan Narang, and Lara Dutta.
The awards span eight key categories, each featuring five nominees who have made a striking impact this year:
| Categories | Prominent Nominees |
| Entertainment | Mohanlal, Rashmika Mandanna, Arijit Singh |
| Business | Falguni Nayar |
| Influencer | Zakir Khan, Raj Shamani |
| Rising Sports Stars | (Not specified) |
| Youth Icon | Ananya Panday, Hanumankind |
| Global Indian | Payal Kapadia |
| Iconic Woman Achiever | (Not specified) |
| Climate Warrior | (Not specified) |
The grandeur of the awards night will be amplified by the presence of several special guests, including World Cup-winning cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma, coach Amol Muzumdar, and ICC Chairperson Jay Shah. The Blind Women’s T20 World Cup champions will also attend, symbolizing national pride. The cast of the recent blockbuster ‘Saiyaara’—Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda—will join the celebrations.
- Partners: The RP Sanjiv Goenka Group is the Presenting Partner, with Reid & Taylor as the Wardrobe Partner. The event is powered by Reliance Industries Limited, alongside Associate Partners Polycab, HDFC Sky, Air India Express, and LIC.
Zakka Jacob, Managing Editor, CNN-News18, highlighted that the platform continues to celebrate personalities who encourage India to dream big and break boundaries. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that this year’s achievers have set new benchmarks and brought global recognition to India.
Viewers can watch the prestigious Indian of the Year Awards LIVE on November 28 from 6 pm on CNN-News18 and its YouTube channel.
Key Highlights:
- CNN-News18 is hosting the 15th edition of its flagship ‘Indian of the Year Awards’ on November 28 at 6 pm, under the theme ‘India’s Invincible Icons’.
- Winners will be selected by an eminent jury that includes former CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice Indu Malhotra (Retd.), and Sanjiv Goenka, across eight categories including Entertainment, Business, and Global Indian.
- Prominent nominees include Mohanlal, Rashmika Mandanna, Arijit Singh, and Falguni Nayar. Special guests include World Cup-winning cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma, and ICC Chairperson Jay Shah.
- The RP Sanjiv Goenka Group is the Presenting Partner, and the event will be broadcast LIVE on CNN-News18 and its YouTube channel.