Shilp Guru

Shilp Guru
Award for outstanding contribution to Indian handicrafts
Awarded forIndian handicrafts
Reward(s)₹2,00,000
First awarded2002
Last awarded2019

The Shilp Guru is the highest honour in the Indian handicrafts sector awarded by Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. It is conferred annually upon 10 master craftspersons who have created an exceptional piece of craft work, showcased highest level of quality and skill in the traditional Indian handicrafts and passed on their skills to the next generation of artisans.[1]

The awards were first introduced in 2002 where 10 eminent master craftpersons were honoured with Shilp Guru (master artisan) title by the President of India. It is presented along with Sant Kabir Awards and National Handicrafts Award to master craftspersons and master weavers, introduced in 1965.[2] Most recent awards were presented on 28 November 2022 by the Vice President of India to 30 master craftspersons for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019.[3] As of 2019, the award consists of ₹2 lakh (equivalent to ₹2.1 lakh or US$2,500 in 2023) prize money, a plaque, a gold coin, a shawl and a certificate.[4]

  1. ^ "Guidelines for selection of Handicraft Awards" (PDF). handicrafts.nic.in. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  2. ^ "President to confer National Awards, Shilp Guru Awards and Sant Kabir Awards Tomorrow". presidentofindia.gov.in. 8 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Vice President of India to confer Shilp Guru and National Awards to the Master Craftspersons on Monday, 28th November, 2022". pib.gov.in. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).