Indian of the Year Awards 2025: Jay Shah, Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda, Harmanpreet Kaur and Others Win Big! Full List Here

29/11/2025
Posted by Riya Gupta

India witnessed a night of inspiration, pride, and extraordinary achievement as the 15th edition of CNN-News18’s Indian of the Year (IOTY) Awards 2025 concluded on November 28, 2025. This year’s theme, ‘India’s Invincible Icons,’ honoured individuals whose grit, courage, and vision continue to shape the nation’s story in remarkable ways.

Since its inception in 2006, the IOTY Awards have been regarded as one of India’s most credible and prestigious news television honours. Over the years, the awards have celebrated leaders and changemakers, including 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

Business Award – Baba Kalyani

Baba Kalyani, Chairman of Bharat Forge Limited and Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited, received the Business Award. He emerged ahead of nominees such as Albinder Dhindsa, Falguni Nayar, Rajesh Jejurikar, and Roshni Nadar Malhotra. His leadership in defence manufacturing and innovation positioned him as an industry trailblazer.

Sports Award – Suruchi Phogat

Champion shooter Suruchi Phogat won the Sports Award after securing her third consecutive ISSF World Cup gold in Munich.

Youth Icon Award – Lt Cdr Roopa A and Lt Cdr Dilna K

In a historic maritime achievement, Lt Cdr Roopa A and Lt Cdr Dilna K were awarded the Youth Icon Award. They became the first Indian duo to circumnavigate the globe in double-handed mode aboard INSV Tarini under the Navika Sagar Parikarma II mission.

Braveheart Indians Award – Rauf Wani and Sajjad Ahmad Bhat

Rauf Wani and Sajjad Ahmad Bhat received the Braveheart Indians Award for their heroic rescue efforts during the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Special Inspiring Champions Award – Deepika TC-led Blind Women’s Cricket Team

The Blind Women’s Cricket Team, led by Deepika TC, was honoured with the Special Inspiring Champions Award. They created history by winning the inaugural T20 World Cup for the Blind in November 2025. Deepika, who lost her vision as an infant and hails from rural Karnataka, captained the team with remarkable determination.

Gen Z Icons of the Year – Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda

Actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the lead pair from Saiyaara, were celebrated as the Gen Z Icons of the Year. They represent a new wave of young talent redefining entertainment.

Outstanding Achievement Award – Jay Shah

ICC Chairman Jay Shah received the Outstanding Achievement Award for his transformative contributions to Indian cricket. He introduced pay parity for women players and launched the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Champion of the World Award – Harmanpreet Kaur

Indian Women’s Cricket Team captain Harmanpreet Kaur was honoured with the Champion of the World Award. She led India to victory in the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup. Her achievements also include three Women’s Asia Cup titles (2012, 2016, 2022) and a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games.