Pune: Dr. Vijay Kelkar, a distinguished economist and a key figure in India’s policy reforms, has been announced as the recipient of the 2025 Punyabhushan Award for his exceptional contributions to the field of economics. The selection committee, chaired by renowned scientist Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, finalized his name for this prestigious honor.
Alongside Dr. Kelkar, the foundation will also honor four soldiers wounded in the line of duty and the mother of a war martyr for their service and sacrifice. The announcement was made by Dr. Satish Desai, founder-president of the Punyabhushan Foundation, through an official press release.
The Punyabhushan Award, now in its 37th year, has been a symbol of honor and prestige not just in Maharashtra but across India and internationally. Instituted to recognize individuals who have made remarkable contributions in their respective fields, the award is regarded as one of Pune’s highest honors.
The award comprises:
A special memento, featuring a representation of young Shivaji plowing Pune’s land with a golden plow and the city’s guardian deities
A cash prize of ₹2 lakh
List of Past Awardees
Over the years, the Punyabhushan Award has been conferred upon many distinguished personalities from various fields, including politics, literature, music, sports, and industry. Some notable recipients include:
Former Presidents & Prime Ministers: Pranab Mukherjee, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Political Leaders: Hamid Ansari, Venkaiah Naidu, Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Manohar Joshi, Sushilkumar Shinde, Sharad Yadav, Nitin Gadkari
Art and Culture: Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosale, Girish Karnad, Mahesh Elkunchwar, Sharmila Tagore, Anupam Kher
Sports Legends: Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev
Legal and Journalism: Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari, The Hindu’s editor N. Ram
Industry and Business: Padma Vibhushan Narayana Murthy
Music Maestros: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
