Lalit Kala Akademi celebrated its 72nd Foundation Day on 5 August 2026 at Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi, commemorating over seven decades of dedicated service to the promotion and preservation of Indian art. The celebration was graced by Shri KK Mishra, Joint Secretary (Akademis), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, as the Chief Guest, and Shri Mukul Pawar, the first Art Scholar of Lalit Kala Akademi and an eminent artist, as the Guest of Honour. Prior to the commencement of the programme, Shri KK Mishra paid floral tributes to the statue of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at Rabindra Bhawan. He viewed the curated Lalit Kala Akademi timeline display, showcasing significant milestones from the Akademi’s journey through archival photographs. The programme was attended by Shri Aneish P. Rajan, Director, Ministry of Culture, Shri Rajeev Kumar, Secretary, Lalit Kala Akademi, distinguished artists, senior officials, pensioners of the Akademi, art students, and art enthusiasts. A significant highlight of the occasion was the release of two important publications by Shri Kanu Patel celebrating the lives and contributions of renowned artists: • Chitrakar Kanu Desai • Kalaguru Ravishankar Raval The celebration reaffirmed Lalit Kala Akademi’s enduring commitment to documenting, preserving, and promoting India’s rich artistic legacy while inspiring future generations of artists and art lovers.