As every year, on 3 December 2025, a special ceremony was held in New Delhi where President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. In her speech, she said that persons with disabilities, or Divyangjan, deserve equality and not pity. She added that their equal participation in the country’s development is a duty of every citizen and not an act of charity. She also highlighted that a society becomes truly developed only when Divyangjan are included equally, which was also the theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The awards honoured individuals and institutions whose work has made important contributions in accessibility, inclusion, education, arts, sports, achievement, service, and social work. ISH News has already shared details about the different award categories.

One of the most inspiring stories this year was that of Lieutenant Colonel C Dwarakesh, the first and only blind active-duty officer in the Indian Armed Forces. He lost his eyesight in 2014 in a work-related accident but continued to serve with dedication. He learned assistive technologies, pursued academic and research work in management, HR, labour law and sports, and also became a successful para-athlete. In October 2025, he achieved a world-record score in 10 m Air Rifle at the Shooting World Cup. President Murmu honoured him with the National Award for Persons with Disabilities for his courage and commitment to inclusion in the armed forces.

Another proud moment was for the Deaf community. Mr. Rajesh Ketkar from Vadodara, Gujarat, received the Sarvashreshth Divyangjan award. As Project Director of Mook Badhir Mandal (MBM), he introduced English and digital learning through ISL and helped build a Deaf-led news and learning platform reaching over 1.8 crore people. His work has strengthened Deaf education, digital access, identity, and confidence across India.

Tags

• President Droupadi Murmu
• National Awards

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