HM Amit Shah Presents Lokmanya Tilak Award to Ajit Doval

• Amit Shah presented the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026 to NSA Ajit Doval in Pune.
• Shah praised Doval’s decades-long contribution to India’s internal and external security.
• He credited Doval with helping strengthen the Multi Agency Centre and national security architecture.
• Shah also invoked Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy and urged youth to draw inspiration from his life and writings.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st Aug: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday presented the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026 to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Pune, praising his decades of service to the country and contribution to strengthening India’s national security architecture.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol and several other dignitaries attended the event.

Addressing the gathering, Shah said the conferment of the award on Doval would serve as an inspiration for citizens working in different fields in the service of the country.

“When the history of Modi Ji’s tenure is written and an assessment is made of the country’s internal and external security, a golden page about Ajit Doval Ji will be included in it,” Shah said.

The Home Minister described Doval’s life as an example of dedication to national service and security, highlighting his long career in intelligence and his tenure as India’s longest-serving National Security Advisor.

Shah said Doval served as an Intelligence Bureau officer from 1972 until becoming its Director and played an active role in addressing major security challenges in the Northeast, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. He also referred to Doval’s six-year stint in Pakistan.

Recalling the investigation into the Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts when Narendra Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister, Shah said Doval had worked alongside the Gujarat Police and contributed to an investigation that helped solve several bomb blast cases across the country.

Shah also highlighted Doval’s role in strengthening the Multi Agency Centre (MAC), describing it as the backbone of India’s internal security.

He said Doval had made a significant contribution to decisions taken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to modernise the Armed Forces and integrate technology with military capabilities.

According to Shah, India’s foreign policy has also become stronger under Modi’s leadership, with Doval making an “immense contribution” to the government’s efforts.

Shah also paid tribute to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his 106th death anniversary, recalling his famous declaration, “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it.”

He described Tilak as a visionary teacher, fearless journalist, thinker and Karmayogi who awakened national consciousness and brought the idea of cultural nationalism into India’s freedom movement.

Shah said India had now embarked on the path of cultural nationalism shown by Tilak and asserted that the country’s journey on this path could no longer be stopped.

He highlighted Tilak’s role in establishing the New English School, Deccan Education Society and Fergusson College and recalled the influence of his newspapers Kesari and The Maratha during the freedom struggle.

The Home Minister urged young Indians to read Tilak’s life, speeches and writings and draw inspiration from his ideas.

“Read the Gita from Tilak Maharaj’s perspective, and you will never make a mistake in life,” Shah said.

During his visit, Shah also paid floral tributes to the statue of social reformer and writer Annabhau Sathe on his birth anniversary.