Context: The President of India conferred the 61st annual Lalit Kala Akademi Awards on 15 meritorious artists at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 4th March, 2020.

• The Lalit Kala Akademi nominated seven member selection Jury of eminent art practitioners, artists and critics from all over the country to finalise the list of artists to be awarded.
• Lalit Kala Akademi organises art exhibitions and award ceremonies every year to promote art as well as to honour talents.
• Artwork of the award-winning artists will be on display till March 22, 2020, at the 61st National Exhibition of Art at the Lalit Kala Akademi galleries in New Delhi.

About National Lalit Kala Akademi Awards

• Lalit Kala Akademi, National Academy of Art, New Delhi was set up by the Government of India as an autonomous body, in 1954.
• The Akademi was given statutory authority in 1957, under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
• Since its establishment it has been serving the entire country by promoting the creative endeavours of Indian artists and bringing their arts to bear upon a large number of people, thereby playing an important role in defining and redefining the sensibility of an entire culture, falling under the visual arts spectrum.