The Express Group hosted the 2nd Ramnath Goenka India Press Photo Awards this evening at The Express Towers, Mumbai. The evening began with a preview of the World Press Photo exhibition, which the group has brought to India for the 4th year in a row.

The parameters for the Ramnath Goenka India Press Photo of the year are: a photograph showing outstanding visual qualities and telling a news story with great impact.

The Chief Guest for the evening Mr. Uddhav Thackeray, Executive President, Shiv Sena an avid photographer spoke about the passion of photographers and the skill of press photographers. Mr. Shekhar Gupta, Group CEO and Editor-in –Chief, The Express Group, also spoke about the awards and so did Pablo on behald of the Jury.

The most prestigious Award, The Ramnath Goenka Picture of the Year went to Vipin Pawar from DNA. He received a Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 1,00,000/- while the winners in each of the different categories received Trophies and a cash award of Rs.50,000/- each.

From 16th December, the India Press winning photos and some selected entries credited as 'Honourable Mention's will be on display at the Express Gallery, Express Towers.

The Ramnath Goenka India Press Photo Awards were instituted by The Express Group as an initiative to identify, promote and reward the Indian Press photographer and Photojournalist. It is through their unique skill and effort a story is told to you…strong stories of what happens around us – our neighbourhood, city, state and in our country. They capture the essence of news through their eyes and their lenses.

The Ramnath Goenka India Press Photo Awards called for participation of the photo journalists from all over India, and received over 4700 entries. The entries were submitted in 10 categories namely Spot News, General News, Daily life, People in the News, Arts and Entertainment, Sports, Nature and Environment, Contemporary Issues, Advertising Photography and International Photographer Covering India. The panel of respectable judges included Devika Daulet Singh, director of photography at PhotoInk, New Delhi, Pablo Bartholeomew, a photojournalist and documentary photographer with Gamma-Liason Photo News Agency, New York and Prashant Panjiar, who works with Time magazine and runs his owns photo agency.

India Press Photo Awards 06 is sponsored by Canon as the Associate Sponsor. Exchange4Media is the on-line media partner.