Laadli Awards open entries for 16th edition

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Population First has invited entries for the 16th edition of the Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity (LMAAGS), calling on journalists, students, filmmakers, authors, advertisers and content creators across India to submit their work by July 31, 2026.

The awards recognise media and creative content that promotes gender sensitivity, challenges stereotypes and encourages inclusive representation across journalism, advertising, films, television, web series and books. A new Student category has also been introduced to encourage young storytellers. Launched in 2005 under Population First's Laadli initiative, the awards have honoured over 1,800 pieces of gender-sensitive journalism since 2007 and have expanded to South Asia.

Dr. A. L. Sharada, Trustee and Former Director of Population First, said the awards aim to give visibility to gender-sensitive journalism and content that often goes unrecognised. She encouraged journalists, filmmakers, students and media professionals to participate and strengthen the movement for a more equitable media landscape. The journalism awards are open to entries in 14 Indian languages.

Winners will be selected by expert juries from media, advertising and gender studies and announced at regional and national levels. Entries must have been published, released or aired between January 1 and December 31, 2025. There is no entry fee. Journalists and students can submit entries online through Population First's website, while advertising campaigns, films, television programmes and web series can be submitted via email. The last date for submissions is July 31.