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Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026 to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Pune on 1 August 2026, marking the 106th death anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Doval is India's longest-serving NSA, in office since 2014, and is credited as the founding architect of the Multi Agency Centre (MAC), India's counter-terrorism intelligence-sharing hub.
The award, instituted in 1983 by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust, is conferred annually on 1 August; past recipients include PM Narendra Modi, Pranab Mukherjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Sudha Murty.
Principal advisor to the Prime Minister on national security and foreign policy; heads the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS)
24x7 counter-terrorism intelligence-sharing grid linking around 28 agencies, including R&AW, the armed forces and state police
Bal Gangadhar Tilak dies
Post of National Security Advisor created; Brajesh Mishra becomes India's first NSA
Lokmanya Tilak National Award instituted by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust
Multi Agency Centre (MAC) formed, following Kargil Review Committee recommendations
MAC substantially strengthened after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks
Ajit Doval appointed National Security Advisor by PM Modi
Doval conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026
Freedom fighter and editor of Kesari and The Maratha, coined 'Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it'; founded the New English School, Deccan Education Society and Fergusson College in Pune
Include PM Narendra Modi (41st), Sudha Murty (42nd, 2024), Pranab Mukherjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indira Gandhi and Verghese Kurien
GS Paper 1 > Modern Indian History (Tilak); GS Paper 3 > Internal Security > Intelligence Agencies
Annual — the award is conferred every 1 August
A 24x7 counter-terrorism intelligence-fusion grid under the Intelligence Bureau, linking about 28 central and state security agencies; formed in December 2001 and expanded after 26/11