NEW DELHI — The Danish Siddiqui Foundation hosted the Danish Siddiqui Journalism Awards 2026 in New Delhi on Sunday, celebrating journalists for their exceptional public-interest reporting across various media formats.

Delivering the keynote address, former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur flagged concerns surrounding freedom of expression. He spoke on issues of speech, protest, and censorship, emphasizing that the freedom to question and dissent remains fundamental to a functioning democracy.

Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr. Raghuram Rajan delivered a special address focusing on the necessity of credible, evidence-based journalism. He noted that reliable reporting is crucial for shaping an informed public discourse, especially amidst complex social and economic conditions.

Several journalists were recognized for their outstanding contributions. Aiswarya Raj and Dheeraj Mishra of The Indian Express secured the award for print reporting. In the broadcast journalism category, the honor went to Abhinav Goel of BBC News.

Zeeshan Latif, a contributor to The Washington Post, was awarded in the photojournalism category. For digital media, Aparna Ganesan of The Migration Story won in the digital-broadcast segment, while Apoorva Mandhani of The Print was recognized for digital-print reporting.

The jury also awarded Special Mentions to Avadhesh Akodia of Dainik Bhaskar and Sukanya Shantha of The Wire for their notable work.

An independent jury led by chairman Om Thanvi selected the winners following a rigorous evaluation process. The jury panel included Siddharth Varadarajan, Suhasini Haidar, Josy Joseph, Sabeena Gadihoke, and Saurabh Dwivedi.

The awards, which received nationwide entries across print, digital, video, and photojournalism, were established in memory of late Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Danish Siddiqui.

The ceremony was attended by numerous journalists, editors, and media professionals. The event concluded with a special remembrance segment honoring Siddiqui's profound contributions to conflict and humanitarian reporting.