The Kisan Trust organised the Chaudhary Charan Singh Awards 2025 (second edition) on December 20, 2025, in memory of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh. The awards recognised eminent individuals and institutions for their contributions to agriculture, social service, journalism and rural development.

The awards were presented by the Chief Guest, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to personalities selected by the Kisan Trust’s award jury. Recalling Chaudhary Charan Singh’s legacy, Chouhan said that at a time when few dared to challenge Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Chaudhary Sahab strongly opposed the foreign-inspired concept of cooperative farming. Guided by Gandhian ideals, he abolished the zamindari system and implemented land reforms that made farmers the rightful owners of land.

Special Guest Jayant Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said farmers usually come to Delhi to raise their voices. “But today is different- farmers have come to Delhi to confer awards in the memory of Chaudhary Sahab,” he remarked. The programme was presided over by Dr. Yashvir Singh, President of the Kisan Trust, who said Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh empowered farmers, ensured land ownership for Dalits and backward communities, and upheld their right to live with dignity. He said farmers suffered the greatest loss after Chaudhary Sahab’s passing. Trustee Charu Chaudhary, senior agricultural scientist Dr. A.K. Singh, and other distinguished guests were present.

Awardees of the Kisan Trust

Senior journalist Harvir Singh, Editorin-Chief of Rural Voice and Rural World, received the Kalam Ratna Award. Calling the honour both proud and emotional, he said his journalism has consistently raised issues related to villages and farmers and continues to amplify rural voices at the national level

Progressive farmer Satyawan Sahrawat, recipient of the Kisan Award, said the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 can be achieved only by empowering farmers in line with Chaudhary Charan Singh’s ideals.

Agricultural scientist and ICAR Deputy Director General Dr. Devendra Kumar Yadava, who received the Krishi Utthan Award, said it was a matter of pride to be associated with the name of Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh, revered as a messiah of farmers. Accepting the Agricultural Entrepreneur Award on behalf of Fruwtech, Dr. Jagdish Gupta said the institution was honoured to receive the recognition. Rukmini Banerji, receiving the Seva Ratna Award on behalf of Pratham Education Foundation, said it was an honour for the organisation to be recognised in Chaudhary Charan Singh’s name for its contribution to education.