####Akram Khan Bahrupiya, Folk Artist from Rajasthan, Selected for Sangeet Natak Akademi Award*

New Delhi. The Sangeet Natak Akademi has announced its prestigious awards for the years 2024 and 2025. Akram Khan Bahrupiya, a renowned folk artist from Bandikui (Dausa), Rajasthan, has been selected for the 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar' in the folk dance category.

Raju Das, Secretary of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, stated that Akram Khan Bahrupiya will receive this national honor in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the fields of music, dance, theatre, and folk art. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar comprises a cash prize of ₹25,000, along with a *Tamrapatra* (citation plaque) and an *Angavastram* (ceremonial stole).

He further mentioned that the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards will be conferred by the President of India at a special investiture ceremony.

The list released by the Akademi includes selected artists from across the country. Akram Khan Bahrupiya's selection is considered a matter of pride for Rajasthan's folk art and the *Bahrupiya* tradition. This honor serves as national-level recognition of his remarkable contribution to the preservation and promotion of Indian folk culture. Notably, Akram Khan, along with his brother Shamshed Bahrupiya, has showcased his talent at various state, national, and international platforms.