The Lalit kala Akademi has instituted several awards and honours to be conferred on artists in recognition for their outstanding work in the field of art. Of all these awards and recognitions, the honour of Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi is regarded as the highest honour conferred on an artist by the Lalit Kala Akademi. This prestigious recognition in the field of art has been instituted by the Lalit Kala Akademi, ever since 1954 and so far, … artists have been honoured by the National Academy of Art.  In art circles in India, the honour of Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi is regarded as the highest recognition and honour that can be bestowed on an artist in the country, it being the national body of art created by the Government of India.

The honour of Fellow is thus bestowed by the Akademi as an annual recognition, on veteran art masters, who have done the country proud and have taken forward Indian contemporary art to great heights by dint of their art contributions. Indeed their art is acknowledged as path-breaking and their works are researched and respected by academics and the art-loving public and acknowledged as pioneering trends in Indian contemporary art. Even in the international field their works are given utmost importance and are held up as signature art generating trends and standards for Indian contemporary art.

The task of choosing a candidate considered ideal for this honour is taken up by the Members of the General Council of the Lalit Kala Akademi. It is therefore obvious that the selection process for a Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi is carefully laid out and scrupulously adhered to by the General Council of the Lalit Kala Akademi so that the honour is conferred on the most deserving candidate, thereby upholding the dignity and honour in which this esteemed recognition is held.

Clear guidelines are provided to the Members. A majority of three-fourths of the Members, present and voting, elect not more than one Fellow of the Akademi out of the names placed before them by the existing Fellows of the Lalit Kala Akademi. The existing Fellows are given clear guidelines about the modus operandi of selection. They examine the career achievements of the proposed Fellow and this is duly verified and presented by the Secretary of the Lalit Kala Akademi. Each Fellow may recommend not more than one name of an artist, art critic, art historian, or a person who has rendered outstanding service to the cause of Indian contemporary art.

This process of selection and then conferring the honour of Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi has given singular recognition to several masters of Indian art. The names of Fellows of the Lalit Kala Akademi, till 2008 are:

List of fellows