Assam creates the Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award; Usha Mangeshkar named first recipient

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Assam creates the Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award; Usha Mangeshkar named first recipient

23 October 2026

The Assam Cabinet has set up a new honour at the national level, the 'Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award'.
It is meant for people who have made an outstanding contribution to music and culture in India.
The award will be given once in three years and carries Rs 10 lakh in cash with a citation.
Veteran singer Usha Mangeshkar has been picked as its first winner.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to hand it over on November 29 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, when Hazarika's year-long birth centenary celebrations close.
The same Cabinet meeting raised the cash prize of the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award to Rs 15 lakh.

Cash prize: Rs 10 lakh Frequency: Every three years First recipient: Usha Mangeshkar Presentation: November 29, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

Why it matters for exams: A new state-instituted national award, its first recipient (Usha Mangeshkar) and its link to Bhupen Hazarika, the 'Bard of the Brahmaputra', are standard Awards & Persons questions.

Kerala PSCUPSC

23 October 2026 Source: The Hindu

In plain words

Bhupen Hazarika Bharat Ratna singer-composer from Assam — Known as the 'Bard of the Brahmaputra'; the new award carries his name.

Bharat Mandapam Convention centre in New Delhi — Venue where the award will be presented on November 29.

Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award Assam's cultural award named after the saint-reformer Sankardev — Its cash prize has been raised to Rs 15 lakh.