At the 16th Edition of the Sansad Ratna Awards 2026, held on 9th September 2026 at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, the presidential address was delivered by Shri Hansraj G. Ahir, Chairman of the Sansad Ratna Jury Committee. A seasoned parliamentarian, Shri Ahir previously served as the Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) in the rank of Union Cabinet Minister and as the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs. He also holds the unique distinction of being the very first recipient of the Sansad Ratna Award at its inaugural edition in 2010.
Shri Hansraj G. Ahir, Chairman of the Jury Committee, delivering the presidential address at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
Detailed Gist of Shri Hansraj G. Ahir’s Presidential Address
Delivering his address in Hindi as the presiding dignitary of the ceremony, Shri Hansraj G. Ahir shared thoughtful reflections on parliamentary accountability, constitutional sanctity, and the significance of civil society scrutiny:
- Personal Association Since Inception (2010): Shri Ahir recalled that in 2010, the Prime Point Foundation invited him to Chennai to confer the inaugural Sansad Ratna Award. Bharat Ratna Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam addressed the gathering via telephone, personally conveying his blessings and congratulations. Receiving that initial honour gave him immense encouragement and reinforced the feeling that citizens were closely watching parliamentary performance, which inspired him to work even harder in the House and earn subsequent recognitions.
- Rigorous and Face-Blind Selection Process: Speaking in his capacity as the Chairman of the seven-member Jury Committee, he explained that awardees are never selected based on personal acquaintance, party affiliation, or face value. The selection is governed by strict, transparent criteria established by Prime Point Foundation, relying entirely on official records published on the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha websites. The committee comprehensively monitors the number of parliamentary questions raised, active participation in legislative debates, interventions during budget discussions, and the introduction of Private Members’ Bills.
- The Immense Dignity and Responsibility of Parliament: He reminded the audience that out of India's vast population of 1.4 billion people, only a handful of citizens are elected to sit in the nation’s highest legislative sanctum. Representing the faith of hundreds of thousands of voters, an MP's responsibility is boundless. He stressed that a parliamentarian's duty is not restricted merely to local constituency issues; every MP possesses the constitutional mandate to articulate and debate broader national interests, international relations, socio-economic challenges, and national security.
- Understanding Parliamentary Discourse and Dissent: Drawing from his own years in the Opposition, he remarked that vociferous protest and disruptions often form an inevitable part of holding governments accountable and uncovering public irregularities. However, he underlined that true parliamentary excellence lies in balancing passionate dissent with substantive, well-researched debate and legislative work that strengthens governance.
- Temple of the Constitution: Shri Ahir noted that the supreme Constitution given to the nation by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is revered and brought to life daily within the halls of Parliament. He commended the award-winning parliamentarians for setting a stellar benchmark for other MPs to emulate.
- Expanding Horizons to Committees and Commissions: He lauded the initiative of the awards committee for continuously broadening its scope—recognising Parliamentary Standing Committees (including Coal & Steel chaired by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur and the SC/ST Welfare Committee) and introducing institutional awards for statutory bodies such as the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
- Praise for Prime Point Foundation: He warmly commended the Prime Point Foundation, founded in Chennai, for leading an exemplary nationwide movement to safeguard democracy from the civil society space, having felicitated over 150 dedicated parliamentarians over the past sixteen editions.
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