Maharashtra Bhushan Award List: The Maharashtra Bhushan is recognized as the highest civilian award of Maharashtra for exceptional contributions in various fields, including literature, arts, sports, science, social work, journalism, public administration, and health services. The government of Maharashtra first instituted the Maharashtra Bhushan Award in 1996, and the inaugural award was given to Purushottam Laxman Deshpande for his exceptional work in literature in 1996. Recipients of the award receive a cash prize of ₹25 lakh, along with a memento and citation.
The Maharashtra Bhushan Award ceremony for the year 2023 was notably held at the International Corporate ground Kharghar in Navi Mumbai. During the ceremony, Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the award to Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari, who is also known as Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, for his contributions as a spiritual leader and social worker. The event attracted thousands of attendees; unfortunately, there were reports of 11 individuals reportedly succumbing to heatstroke due to the extreme heat conditions while waiting in the sun. In response, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced financial support of ₹5 lakh to the families of those affected by this tragedy.
Maharashtra Bhushan Award List Overview
| Name of Award | Maharashtra Bhushan Award |
| State | Maharashtra |
| First Awarded | 1996 |
| Award Amount | ₹ 25 Lakh |
| Latest Awardee | Appasaheb Dharmadhikari |
| Official Website | https://awards.gov.in |
Below is the list of winners of the Maharashtra Bhushan Award from its inception in 1996 through 2023.
Maharashtra Bhushan Award Winners List from 1996 to 2025
| Edition | Year | Name | Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1996 | Purushottam Laxman Deshpande | Literature |
| 2nd | 1997 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts, Music |
| 3rd | 1999 | Vijay Bhatkar | Science |
| 4th | 2001 | Sachin Tendulkar | Sports |
| 5th | 2002 | Bhimsen Joshi | Arts and Music |
| 6th | 2003 | Abhay and Rani Bang | Medical Services |
| 7th | 2004 | Baba Amte | Social Work |
| 8th | 2005 | Raghunath Anant Mashelkar | Science |
| 9th | 2006 | Ratan Tata | Public Administration |
| 10th | 2007 | R. K. Patil | Social Work |
| 11th | 2008 | Dr. Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari | Social Work |
| 11th | 2008 | Mangesh Padgaonkar | Literature |
| 12th | 2009 | Sulochana Latkar | Art and Cinema |
| 12th | 2010 | Jayant Narlikar | Science |
| 14th | 2011 | Anil Kakodkar | Science |
| 15th | 2015 | Babasaheb Purandare | Literature |
| 16th | 2021 | Asha Bhosle | Arts and Music |
| 17th | 2023 | Appasaheb Dharmadhikari | Social Work |
Also Read:
Padma Awards Winners 2025 List PDF