Why is it in the news?  

• President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the years 2022 and 2023 to distinguished artists in various performing arts fields such as music, dance, drama, folk, and tribal arts.
• During the ceremony, President Murmu emphasized the social significance of art, stating that artists have historically used their craft for the betterment of society, and Indian art exemplifies the nation’s soft power.

More about the news

• Six eminent artists were honoured with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour given to individuals for their exceptional contributions to the performing arts.
• The Fellowship, also known as “Akademi Ratna,” is limited to 40 recipients at any given time.
• Notable recipients of the Akademi Fellowship include Vinayak Khedekar, R. Visweswaran, Sunayana Hazarilal, Raja and Radha Reddy, Dulal Roy, and D.P. Sinha.
• Additionally, artists from various disciplines such as music, dance, theatre, and folk and tribal arts were awarded the Akademi Awards for 2023. Among the notable awardees are Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, Neyveli Narayanan, Urmila Sathyanarayanan, and Pallavi Krishnan.