The Charles Walters Council for Innovation & Research (CWSIR) has announced that the third edition of the Honour of Ashoka Award & Indo-International Intellectual Conclave 2026 will be held on 19 July 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, with an expanded vision that reflects the changing face of national leadership.

Announcing the developments, Abhishek Pandey, Director of the Charles Walters Council for Innovation & Research (CWSIR) and Convenor of the Honour of Ashoka Award 2026, said the organisation has entered the final phase of preparations for what has evolved into one of India's distinguished multidisciplinary civilian recognition platforms. He stated that the Honour of Ashoka Award is enlisted on Wikipedia and recognised by the Government of India, reflecting the growing stature, credibility and national significance of the platform. He reiterated that CWSIR, a Section-8 organisation, remains committed to promoting research, innovation, intellectual leadership, education, public policy and nation-building through its various national and international initiatives.

Pandey said the Honour of Ashoka Award was instituted to recognise excellence, integrity, leadership and extraordinary contributions to society. During its first two editions, the platform primarily honoured distinguished government officers, administrators, policymakers, defence personnel, jurists and public servants for their exemplary service in governance, public administration and nation-building. The third edition marks a significant expansion by recognising exceptional achievers from the fields of film, fashion, entertainment, sports, entrepreneurship, healthcare, literature and responsible social influence, acknowledging individuals whose professional accomplishments and public impact have inspired society through creativity, leadership and meaningful contribution.

The organisers have confirmed the participation of several eminent personalities from diverse fields, including Anupam Kher, Dr. (Hon.) N. Suryanarayanan, Dr. (Hon.) Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Namrata V. Shroff, Amrita Prakash, Chahatt Khanna, Khushboo Kamal, Leena Jumani, Priyamvada Kant, Navina Bole, Manisha Kelkar, Pretti Jaiin, Pooja Dikshit, Mreenal Deshraj, Kiran Dembla, Jaya Misra, Sandhya Mridul, Maria Goretti and Pooja Makhija. Together, they represent an extraordinary confluence of excellence across cinema, television, fashion, literature, sports, entrepreneurship, health, wellness, media and responsible social influence. The organisers also confirmed that several more distinguished personalities from the fields of cinema, television, fashion, entrepreneurship and public influence are presently under consideration, with the final list of honourees to be announced upon completion of the selection and confirmation process.

Pandey clarified that the Honour of Ashoka Award is a strictly merit-based civilian recognition and is neither conferred on the basis of monetary consideration nor influenced by sponsorships, lobbying or personal recommendations. Every nomination undergoes a structured evaluation process based on professional excellence, public impact, credibility, ethical leadership and meaningful contribution to society.

The Honour of Ashoka Award & Indo-International Intellectual Conclave 2026 will be presided over by His Lordship Mr. Justice Rajesh Tandon (Retd.), former Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court, in the presence of eminent personalities from the judiciary, civil services, public administration, academia, industry and the creative fraternity.

Highlighting the stature of the platform, Pandey recalled that previous editions of the Honour of Ashoka Award have witnessed the gracious presence of several eminent dignitaries, including General J. J. Singh, former Chief of Army Staff and former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh; Shri Shekhar Dutt, former Deputy National Security Advisor, Defence Secretary and Governor of Chhattisgarh; Shri Kalraj Mishra, former Governor of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh; General Deepak Kapoor, former Chief of Army Staff; Justice B. P. Singh, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India; Air Marshal G. S. Bedi; Lieutenant General S. K. Saini, former Vice Chief of the Indian Army; Justice Vijender Jain, former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Shri Saurabh Tiwari, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat; Shri Subodh Kant Sahay, former Union Minister; and Dr. R. K. Ranjan Singh, former Minister of State, Government of India.

Pandey expressed confidence that the third edition of the Honour of Ashoka Award would further strengthen the culture of recognising excellence across governance, public service, entrepreneurship, sports, arts, entertainment, healthcare and responsible public influence. He said the platform seeks to honour individuals whose work continues to shape society, inspire future generations and contribute meaningfully towards nation-building and the larger public good.