2025 · 3rd Prize Winner · SUSMITA DATTAPakshi Bird Photographer of the Year Award
Winner₹40,000
Runner-Up₹30,000
2nd Runner-Up₹15,000
Merit Award₹10,000
Pakshi - Bird Photography Awards 2026 - Edition 2
Win ₹8 Lacs+ in Prizes
5 Entries ₹1,500 +GST ₹3,000 50% OFF
9 Entries ₹2,000 +GST ₹4,000 50% OFF
15 Entries ₹2,500 +GST ₹5,000 50% OFF
Early bird offer ends in 21 DAYS
Competition Overview
The Pakshi Awards — Bird Photographer of the Year Award is India's prestigious award dedicated exclusively to the birds of the Indian subcontinent.
Presented by NTPC, the awards celebrate excellence in bird photography while showcasing the extraordinary avian diversity of the Indian subcontinent. Home to 1,300+ bird species and an exceptional range of habitats, it offers some of the world's finest opportunities for bird photography.
Following a successful inaugural edition with 5,000+ entries, the 2nd edition invites photographers to showcase images that combine artistic vision, technical excellence and compelling natural history.
The Pakshi Awards offer Photographers 8 submission categories and a total of 25 prizes.
Open to photographers aged 16 years and above. All entries must feature wild birds photographed within the Indian subcontinent only. The Competition is open to all Indian nationals, NRI's and PIO's.
₹8 Lacs+ in Prizes
11 Award Categories | 25 fabulous Cash Prizes
2025 · 3rd Prize Winner · SUSMITA DATTAEntriesWinnerRunner-Up
Species Diversity Award9₹30,000₹15,000
Bird Behaviour3₹15,000₹8,000
Birds in Flight3₹15,000₹8,000
Birds in Habitat3 ₹15,000₹8,000
EntryWinnerRunner-Up
Bird Close-ups1₹8,000₹5,000
Bird Portraits1 ₹8,000₹5,000
Rare or Endangered Birds1 ₹8,000₹5,000
Bird Conservation1₹8,000₹5,000
Popular Choice Award
1st₹15,000
2nd₹10,000
3rd₹5,000
NTPC Award
For NTPC Employees only1st₹15,000
2nd₹10,000
More Winner Goodies
Winners Photo Exhibition
Winner Certificates
Expert Mentorship
Participant Goodies
Gift Vouchers
Participation Certificate
Global Photo Exhibition
Personal Portfolio
Biodiversity at NTPC
NTPC Ltd, the title sponsor of the Pakshi Bird Photographer of the Year Awards, believes that sustainable growth and environmental protection are intrinsically linked. Through green initiatives, they aim to give back more than they take, creating a harmonious balance between progress and preservation!
NTPC's efforts towards biodiversity conservation include the following:
- Afforestation drives that have resulted in over 41 million trees being planted since inception.
- Preservation of natural habitats for over 200 indigenous and migratory birds at Kahalgaon, Bihar.
- Blackbuck Conservation at Chand Khamaria Sanctuary - Meja, UP
- Creation of safe nesting areas for migratory birds at Dadri in UP, Solapur in Maharashtra, and Bongaigaon in Assam.
- Adoption of Asiatic Lions and Tigers at Patratu and North Karanpura in Jharkhand.
The Esteemed Jury Panel
The Pakshi Awards are juried by an expert panel consisting of reputed wildlife photographers and educators — giving participants invaluable insights and valuable exposure.
Wildlife Photography Experts
bring storytelling ability, field craft, technical skill and originality to the evaluation.
Photography Educators
bring the pedagogical lens of what makes a picture truly memorable and mentorship-worthy.
Conservation Advocates
bring frontline perspectives on birds, habitats and why awareness matters.
Submission Categories
Species Diversity
9 EntriesShowcase Indian Sub-Continent's Avian Diversity 9 entries of 9 distinct species
Bird Behaviour
3 EntriesFeeding, nest building, courtship, mating displays and species-specific behavior© nitin jain
Birds in Flight
3 EntriesThe grace, agility and freedom of birds in flight© Sourav Dhar
Birds in Habitat
3 EntriesForests, wetlands, mountains and urban landscapes© Santanu Majumder
Bird Close-ups
1 EntryFeathers, eyes, beaks, wings — intricate details revealed© Deepika Rani
Bird Portraits
1 EntryComplete, well-framed portraits that capture personality© Arnab Biswas
Rare or Endangered Birds
1 EntryThreatened, vulnerable and rarely photographed birds of the subcontinent© Nitish Agrawal
Bird Conservation
1 EntryHabitat loss or protection, human impact, conservation story© Prateek AgarwalThe fabulous images above showcase the talent of Pakshi Awards – Edition 1 participants!
Rules & Guidelines
- 1This is an online bird photography competition celebrating the birds of the Indian subcontinent. All entries must be submitted online, via the Aarts Maestro platform only.
- 2The Photography Competition is open to amateur and professional photographers, aged 16+ years, as of the registration date.
- 3Geographic Scope: All submitted photographs must be of birds photographed within the Indian subcontinent. Images shot outside the region are not eligible.
- 4Registration Fee: Fee once paid will not be refunded.
Timeline
Registration Open
2
Submission Begins
5th Sept.
3
Public Voting Begins
Announcing Soon
4
Registration Closes
15th Oct
5
Submission Closes
Will be Announced
6
Jury Evaluation
Nov to Dec
7
Results
To be Announced
Event Sponsor
NTPC Limited
NTPC is India's largest integrated power company, dedicated to lighting every corner of the country and building a sustainable future for all. As a leader in the power sector, NTPC is committed to generating efficient and affordable power, aiming to achieve 149 GW by 2032, with 40% Renewable Capacity. NTPC embraces a diverse fuel mix, integrating fossil fuels, gas, hydro, nuclear, and renewable sources to minimize carbon footprint.
Established in 1975, NTPC has played a vital role in India's economic growth for nearly five decades — lighting every fourth bulb in the country. NTPC's biodiversity efforts include afforestation drives (41M+ trees planted), preservation of habitats for 200+ bird species at Kahalgaon, Blackbuck conservation at Meja, and safe nesting areas at Dadri, Solapur and Bongaigaon.
Platform Terms & Conditions
Limited Grant of Rights: Aarts Maestro respects the creator's copyright to their work and the same shall remain vested with the creator of the image. By entering into the competition, you grant the platform Aarts Maestro, the organiser - NTPC & all existing and upcoming sponsors of the competition, their licensees and designees the worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free right to use the entry in the platform / sponsor / organizers print, electronic and web communications, on digital assets, products, merchandise, and in ads promoting current or future competitions or activities related to bird photography, without further permission, compensation, or notification. You further agree that the said platform / organizer / sponsor shall have the right to use your name and / or photograph for the same purposes.
Contact Us
For any help, contact us: hello@aartsmaestro.com (+91 78293 91391 | +91 78293 92392)
Pakshi - Bird Photography Awards 2026 - Edition 2