Union Home Minister Amit Shah conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award on National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during a ceremony in Pune [1].

The award recognizes Doval's influence on national security decisions and foreign policy, highlighting the strategic shift in how India manages its border and internal security.

Shah said Doval has played a pivotal role in transforming India's defence capabilities over the past 12 years [2]. The Home Minister said the National Security Adviser's advice has been crucial behind the security decisions made by Prime Minister Modi [3].

During the event, Shah recounted his early professional interactions with Doval. He said he has known Doval since he served as the Gujarat Home Minister, specifically during a period when a series of bomb blasts occurred [4]. Shah said that he had no prior acquaintance with Doval before that time [4].

The ceremony honors the contributions of Doval to the modernization of the armed forces [1]. While some reports identify the honor as the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026 [5], other records associate the event with August 2024 [2].

Doval's tenure has been characterized by a focus on intelligence-led operations and the integration of various security apparatuses to create a more cohesive national defense strategy. The recognition in Pune serves as a formal acknowledgment of the long-term impact Doval has had on the state's security architecture [1].

“Ajit Doval has played a pivotal role in transforming India's defence capabilities over the past 12 years.”

The conferment of this award underscores the centralized role of the National Security Adviser in India's current governance model. By publicly attributing the modernization of the armed forces and key security decisions to Doval, the government is signaling a continued reliance on a strategic, intelligence-driven approach to national defense and foreign relations.