The 15th edition of CNN-News18’s Indian of the Year (IOTY) Awards concluded on November 28, 2025, celebrating individuals whose determination, vision, and achievements have left a lasting impact on India.
The 2025 edition, themed ‘India’s Invincible Icons’, honoured changemakers who embody courage, perseverance, and an unwavering spirit, standing tall as symbols of progress in a rapidly transforming nation.
Since its inception in 2006, the IOTY Awards have earned a reputation as one of India’s most credible and prestigious news television honours, recognising those who inspire the nation to dream boldly and push forward with resilience.
Past recipients have included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah Rukh Khan, Neeraj Chopra, Virat Kohli, NGO Stop Acid Attacks, Viswanathan Anand, A.R. Rahman, Manmohan Singh, ISRO, Kailash Satyarthi, Mary Kom, Deepika Padukone, N. Chandrasekaran, and Arvind Kejriwal.
Prominent Winners Of IOTY 2025
Baba Kalyani – Honoured with the Business Award. Baba Kalyani, Chairman of Bharat Forge Limited and Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited, won over other nominees including Albinder Dhindsa, Falguni Nayar, Rajesh Jejurikar, and Roshni Nadar Malhotra.
Suruchi Phogat – Won the Sports Award. The shooter recently secured her third consecutive ISSF World Cup gold in Munich. “I practice for 8 to 10 hours every day. It’s the practice that enables a person to achieve consistent results,” she said.
Lt Cdr Roopa A and Lt Cdr Dilna K – Awarded the Youth Icon Award for completing a historic circumnavigation as the first Indian duo to sail around the globe in double-handed mode aboard INSV Tarini under the Navika Sagar Parikarma II mission.
Rauf Wani and Sajjad Ahmad Bhat – Received the Braveheart Indians Award for their courageous rescue of victims during the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Sajjad Ahmad Bhat recalled, “We encountered numerous injured victims fleeing the scene at Baisaran Valley and helped rescue many of them.”
Deepika TC-led Blind Women’s Cricket Team – Honoured with the Special Inspiring Champions Award after making history by winning the inaugural T20 World Cup for the Blind in November 2025. Deepika, who lost her vision as a baby and hails from rural Karnataka, led the team.
Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda – The lead actors of Saiyaara, awarded Gen Z Icons of the Year.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah – Received the Outstanding Achievement Award for his contributions to Indian cricket, including introducing pay parity for women players and launching the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Harmanpreet Kaur – Captain of the victorious Indian Women’s World Cup team, awarded Champion of the World, having led India to win the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, three Women’s Asia Cup titles (2012, 2016, 2022), and a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games.
Kaur said, “Lifting the World Cup was a dream we cherished since childhood. I would like to thank Jay Shah for his contributions to the Women’s cricket team—the pay parity and WPL initiatives have been immensely helpful.”
Full List of Winners At IOTY 2025
- Business Award – Baba Kalyani
- Sports Award – Suruchi Phogat
- Youth Icon Award – Lt Cdr Roopa A, Lt Cdr Dilna K
- Braveheart Indians Award – Rauf Wani, Sajjad Ahmad Bhat
- Special Inspiring Champions Award – Deepika TC-led Blind Women’s Cricket Team
- Global Indian of the Year – Chef Vijay Kumar
- Gen Z Icons of the Year – Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda
- Influencer of the Year – Revant Himatsingka
- Climate Warrior Award – Aditya Mukarji
- Iconic Woman Achiever Award – Chhonzin Angmo
- Outstanding Achievement Award – ICC Chairman Jay Shah
- Champion of the World Award – Harmanpreet Kaur
The 2025 edition of the Indian of the Year Awards once again highlighted the incredible accomplishments of individuals across diverse fields, celebrating the grit, vision, and perseverance that continue to shape India’s story.
