Abhishek Pandey’s CWSIR Honours Excellence at the Ashoka Award 2025

In a glittering ceremony at the India Habitat Centre today, the Charles Walters Council for Innovation & Research (CWSIR) hosted the Honour of Ashoka Award 2025, recognising exceptional service and integrity across India’s judiciary, civil services, defence, and law-and-order agencies. The event — which began with high tea at 2:30 p.m. and commenced promptly at 3:00 p.m. — brought together a distinguished gathering of jurists, senior bureaucrats, defence veterans, and policy experts to honour those whose careers have strengthened democratic institutions and promoted public welfare. Chief Guest His Excellency Shri Kalraj Mishra, former Cabinet Minister and former Governor of Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, was the principal dignitary on the dais. His Lordship Justice Vijender Jain, former Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, presided as the ceremonial chair. The programme also featured Shri Saurabh Tiwari, Additional Secretary to the Cabinet Secretariat, and Lt. Gen. S.K. Saini, former Vice Chief of the Indian Army, as Guests of Honour. A high-profile jury and esteemed guests — including former and serving judges of various High Courts, several retired Air Marshals and Army Generals, and leading defence commentators — reviewed nominations and conferred awards during the ceremony. Among those present were Justice Rajesh Tandon (Former Judge, Uttarakhand High Court), Justice S.N. Srivastava (Former Judge, Allahabad High Court), Justice Jainendra Kumar Ranka (Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court), Air Marshal (Retd.) Anil Chopra (PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM), Air Marshal (Retd.) G.S. Bedi (PVSM, AVSM), Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Karanbir Singh Brar (PVSM, AVSM), and Maj. Gen. (Retd.) G.D. Bakshi, noted defence analyst. Addressing the gathering, CWSIR Founder Director and Convenor of the Honour of Ashoka Award, Abhishek Pandey, said the awards celebrate public servants who combine administrative acumen with ethical leadership. “Honouring those who serve the nation with integrity and courage strengthens our democratic and administrative fabric,” Mr. Pandey said. “The Honour of Ashoka Award celebrates not just individual excellence, but the values of justice, duty, and public welfare that sustain our Republic.” The Honour of Ashoka Award is a strictly merit-based recognition inspired by the ethos of Emperor Ashoka — good governance, equitable justice, and public service. The 2025 edition opened nominations in several categories: Judicial Lordships; Bureaucrats (Central and State); Force Personnel (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Paramilitary); Civil Servants; and an Exceptional Luminary Personality category (limited to ten nominations), reserved for individuals with an extraordinary public persona and record of leadership. Organisers reiterated that nominations require no financial transaction. Interested parties were asked to submit a recent photograph, a brief service record with commendations (recommended 300–400 words), and essential details such as name, designation, posting place, cadre, and batch. The nomination portal was managed by CWSIR, and further details were made available on the organisation’s website. The 2025 ceremony also highlighted a broad and diverse slate of nominees drawn from multiple services and cadres. Representative nominees included senior and mid-career officers from the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Railways Service, Indian Audit & Accounts Service, Agricultural Research Service, and various defence veterans — reflecting the Award’s commitment to recognising excellence across the entire public service spectrum. CWSIR pointed to its earlier editions and media coverage as a testament to the Award’s growing stature. Past guests have included former service chiefs and senior ministers, while previous editions have received coverage in leading media outlets.