CNN-News18 Indian of the Year

The CNN–News18 Indian of the Year (initially CNN–IBN Indian of the Year) is an award presented annually to various Indians for their work in their respective fields by the Indian media house CNN–News18. The awards are presented in various categories of Politics, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Public Service and Global Indian. The idea of the award was originated by journalists: Rajdeep Sardesai and Sagarika Ghose.

In addition to the traditional award categories of Politics, Business, Sports, Entertainment, Public Service and Global Indian, a new category, that of a 'CNN-IBN Indian of the Year – Popular Choice' was introduced in the ninth edition, where one awardee was chosen from the 35 nominees across categories basis the votes received from public through Facebook.

Special awards
1. 2007


 * Lifetime Achievement - R K Laxman

2. 2008


 * Lifetime Achievement - Dilip Kumar

3. 2009
 * Special Awards - Tukaram Omble
 * Special Awards - Mumbai Police
 * Special Awards - Sheila Dikshit


 * Lifetime Achievement - Pandit Ravi Shankar

4. 2010
 * Special Awards - Kamal Haasan
 * Special Awards - Indian Cricket Team


 * Lifetime Achievement - M. S. Swaminathan

5. 2011


 * Lifetime Achievement - Verghese Kurien

6. 2012
 * Outstanding Achievement - K J Yesudas
 * Special Awards - Yuvraj Singh
 * Special Awards - Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network
 * Special Awards - Ronjan Sodhi

7. 2013
 * Lifetime Achievement - Heroes of Rezang La, 1962
 * Special Awards - Aamir Khan & Team Satyamev Jayate
 * Special Awards - MC Mary Kom
 * Special Awards - Tessy Thomas & Team DRDO

8. 2014 8. 2015 10. 2017 12. 2022
 * Outstanding Achievement - Leander Paes
 * 2013 Outstanding Achievement - Ramakant Achrekar
 * Special Awards - Team ITBP and NDRF
 * Special Awards - Deepika Padukone
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: ISRO team
 * Outstanding Achievement Award: Azim Premji, Kailash Satyarthi
 * Special Achievement Award: Kangana Ranaut
 * Popular Choice Award: Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao, P Vijayan
 * Public Service: Tongam Rina
 * Politics: Arun Jaitley
 * Global Indian: Satya Nadella
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Balbir Singh Dosanjh
 * Outstanding Achievement Award: Dr.Bindeshwar Pathak, United Technologies (Make in India)
 * Special Achievement Award: Kangana Ranaut, Ranveer Singh
 * Public Service: People of Chennai
 * Special Jury Award: Leander Paes
 * Outstanding Achievement in Business: Adar Poonawalla
 * Special Achievement Award: India women's national cricket team
 * Special Achievement Award: Manushi Chhillar
 * Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment (2017): Team Baahubali

13. 2023
 * Outstanding Achievement - Sania Mirza, Ranveer Singh
 * Special Achievement - Sonu Sood
 * Climate Warrior - M. Yoganathan
 * Social Change - Shankare Gowda
 * Start-ups - Zoho Corporation
 * Special Mention - Kulsum Shadab Wahab


 * Outstanding Achievement - ISRO
 * Youth Icon (Jury) - Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju
 * Youth Icon (Popular) - Anirudh Ravichander
 * Climate Warriors - Arun Krishnamurthy, Saalumarada Thimmakka
 * Social Change - Ravi Kannan R
 * Special Mention - Heroes of Uttarkashi