King Charles’ New Year Honours List for 2025 highlights the remarkable contributions of more than 60 prominent figures of South Asian heritage. The list, which recognises the outstanding achievements of individuals across the United Kingdom, celebrates their dedication to society, community service, and professional excellence.
Of the 1,203 honours awarded this year, around 5% are of South Asian heritage, spanning diverse fields such as politics, healthcare, education, business, and the arts. The honours reflect the breadth and depth of South Asian contributions to the UK.
One of the most notable awardees is Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, who has been knighted. Khan, the first Muslim to hold the position and the only mayor to serve three consecutive terms, continues to break barriers and inspire communities across the nation. His knighthood recognises his relentless commitment to public service and his leadership in promoting social cohesion in the capital. Despite a petition organised by Conservative Councillor Matthew Goodwin–Freeman against his Knighthood it cannot be denied that Mr Khan has met with great success in his political career. Many of Khan’s supporters see it as a milestone for inclusivity in British politics.
Mr Khan is proud of his working-class roots, coming from a large family of Pakistani heritage, with his parents working as a bus driver and a seamstress. He went on to build a successful law career and then went on to enter politics.
He again repeated this success by rising to the top of the Labour Party, holding positions including Shadow Secretary for State of Justice, Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Minister for London.
In the last London Mayor elections, he won a decisive victory over his opponents, although many point out the fact that there was a historically low turnout by voters.
Many also praise his focus on important issues such as housing, public transport and air quality, and has made efforts to combat poverty and strengthen links with Europe. His supporters also praise him as an ambassador for London on the global stage.
Ranil Jayawardena, who served as the Conservative MP for East Hampshire until the July general election, also received a knighthood for his political and public service.
Iceland chief executive Tarsem Singh Dhaliwal was honoured with a CBE for his contributions to business and philanthropy, while former Conservative MP for East Hampshire, Ranil Jayawardena, received a knighthood for his political and public service.
Seema Misra, a key figure in the campaign for justice for over 900 sub-postmasters wrongfully prosecuted in the Post-Office Horizon scandal, was awarded an OBE. Misra’s story is one of resilience and courage. Wrongfully imprisoned in 2010 while pregnant, Misra’s fight for justice has been instrumental in exposing one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in recent history. She described her recognition as a “beautiful moment”, one she will share with her 13-year-old son at Buckingham Palace.
Moving to Yorkshire, CEO of Regal Food Products Group Plc, Younis Chaudhry has been recognised in the New Year Honours List with an MBE for his services to business and to the community of Bradford.
For over twenty years Younis Chaudhry has excelled in British business and international trade, all whilst giving back at every opportunity to the Bradford community and beyond.
Starting life from very humble beginnings, Younis has not only built one of the UK’s most successful food groups, Regal Food Products Group plc (home of Regal Bakery, Regal Foods, Yorkshire Baking Company, Just Desserts Yorkshire and Love Handmade Cakes), but has become one of the most exciting and well-respected entrepreneurs.
Younis continues to contribute positively to the UK economy, is a tremendous ambassador for the value of export, and ‘gives back’ at every opportunity. From supporting community sporting clubs, feeding those in need in his local community, to working with charities overseas, Younis is making a difference to the people around him.
Younis Chaudhry MBE said: “When I started in business over twenty years ago, nothing would have prepared me for the journey I have been on, both in business and in life. The community in where I live and where I have built my business is everything to me and I am humbled to be a part of it.”
“Whilst I feel it is my duty to give back, I feel truly honoured to have received such recognition. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for my family, I would personally like to thank my parents for their prayers and blessings and for the guidance they have given me in life. A heartfelt thanks also goes to my wife, children, and brothers for the support they continue to give.”
“I am honoured to work with around 300 people who make up my brilliant team at Regal Food Products Group, I thank each and every one of them for joining me in my Regal journey and for working with me in building the great food group you see today.”
“And finally, my dear friends, friends who have stayed by my side throughout my journey both on a personal and professional level.”
This year’s honours list also reflects gender balance, with women representing 49% of the total recipients (591 awardees), further showcasing the UK’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The recognition of these outstanding individuals not only acknowledges their personal achievements but also serves as an inspiration to the wider South Asian community in the UK, reaffirming their significant role in shaping the nation’s future.
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden encouraged citizens to nominate those who inspire change in their communities for future honours. “This honours list celebrates the quiet heroes who shape our nation in countless meaningful ways,” he said. If you know someone whose achievements deserve recognition, visit www.gov.uk/honours to learn how you can nominate them for the next round of honours.
See the full list of South Asian trailblazers here:
KNIGHTS BACHELOR
The Right Honourable Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena. Lately Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire. For Political and Public Service. (Bramley, Hampshire)
The Right Honourable Sadiq Khan. Mayor of London. For Political and Public Service. (London, Greater London)
ORDER OF THE BATH – Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Jaee Kamalnath SAMANT CBE – Director General, Public Safety, Home Office. For Public Service (London, Greater London)
Order of the British Empire
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Dr Jalal BAGHERLI – Co-Chair, Semiconductor Advisory Panel. For services to the Semiconductor Sector (Woking, Surrey)
Dr Fazal DAD – Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Blackburn College, Lancashire. For services to Further Education (Dudley, West Midlands)
Satwant Kaur DEOL – Lately Principle and Chief Executive Officer, The Henley College, Oxfordshire. For services to Further Education (Maidenhead, Berkshire)
Charles Pritam Singh DHANOWA OBE KC (Hon) – Registrar, United Kingdom Competition Appeal Tribunal. For services to Competition Law (London, Greater London)
Her Honour Sehba HAROON STOREY – Lately Principal Judge, Asylum Support Tribunal. For services to Diversity and Inclusion (Whyteleafe, Surrey)
Leena NAIR – Global Chief Executive Officer, Chanel and lately Global Chief Human Resources Officer, Unilever. For services to the Retail and Consumer Sector (London, Greater London)
Mayank PRAKASH – President, British Computing Society. For services to the Advancement of Technology Professionals (London, Greater London)
Professor Rahim TAFAZOLLI FREng – Regius Professor, University of Surrey. For services to International Mobile Communications Research (London, Greater London)
Purnima Murthy TANUKU OBE – Chief Executive, National Day Nurseries Association. For services to Early Years Education (Blackburn, Lancashire)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Dr Mohamed Raouf Abdul Karim AL-KATTAN FREng – Founder, Safinah Ltd., and Member, Board Of Directors, I-Tech AB. For services to Marine Engineering (Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland)
Professor Safa Taha AL-SARRAJ – Head of Clinical Neuropathology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Medicine, particularly to Neuropathology (London, Greater London)
Professor Sanjay ARYA – Medical Director and Consultant Cardiologist, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Medical Director, Centre for Remediation, Support and Training. For services to Black and Minority Ethnic Doctors and Healthcare in North West England (Bolton, Greater Manchester)
Hina BOKHARI – Co-Founder, Naz Legacy Foundation. For services to Young People, to Charity and to Inter-Faith Relations (London, Greater London)
Professor Nandini DAS – Professor, Early Modern Literature and Culture and Tutorial Fellow, Exeter College, University of Oxford. For services to Interdisciplinary Research in the Humanities and to Public Engagement (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
Dharshini DAVID – Chief Economics Correspondent, BBC and Author. For services to Economics (London, Greater London)
Tarsem Singh DHALIWAL – Chief Executive Officer, Iceland Foods. For services to the Welsh Economy, Retail and Charity (Mold, Clwyd)
Imtiaz DHARKER – Poet, Artist and Video Film-Maker. For services to the Arts (London, Greater London)
Jasmine DOTIWALA – For services to Broadcasting, to Music and to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (London, Greater London)
Sarwat Tasneem EBBETT – Behavioural Change Consultant, Thrive Foundation and Volunteer. For services to Faith and to Integration (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
Abdul Karim FATEHI MBE – Chief Executive Officer, United Corporation. For services to International Trade (Purley, Surrey)
Monica KOHLI – President, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association UK and Chair, Indian Maritime Association UK. For services to Promoting Diversity in the Maritime Industry (London, Greater London)
Soumya MAJUMDAR – Head of Unit, Proceeds of Crime Division, Crown Prosecution Service. For services to Law and Order (Chelmsford, Essex)
Seema MISRA – Campaigner for Subpostmasters. For services to Justice (Woking, Surrey)
Professor Shahina PARDHAN – Founding Director, Vision and Eye Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University. For services to Optometry and Preventing Blindness (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
Ushma Manhar PATEL MBE- Prime Minister’s Diary Manager, Prime Minister’s Office. For Public Service (London, Greater London)
Sravya RAO – Deputy Director, Economy and Strategic Analysis, Department for Business and Trade. For Public Service (London, Greater London)
Ubaid-ul REHMAN – Senior Diversity and Inclusion Advisor, College of Policing and Co-Founder, Imaan and Chair, Goslings Badminton Club. For services to Equality in the LGBTQ+ Community (Watford, Hertfordshire)
Mandeep Kaur SANGHERA – Project Manager and Philanthropist, Coventry. For services to Refugee Resettlement (Coventry, West Midlands)
Savraj Singh SIDHU – Assistant Head, Ukraine Task Force, Security Policy and Operations, Ministry of Defence. For services to Defence (London, Greater London)
Smruti SRIRAM – Chief Executive Officer, Supreme Creations (Bags of Ethics). For services to Fashion (London, Greater London)
Professor Zaheer Raza YOUSEF – Consultant Cardiologist, University Hospital of Wales. For services to the Treatment of Heart Failure (Penarth, South Glamorgan)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Usman ALI – Social Mobility Ambassador, Ministry of Justice, Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangement, HM Prison and Probation Service. For services to the Public and to the Civil Service (Bradford, West Yorkshire)
Shagufta Parveen ASAM – Foster Carer, London Borough of Redbridge. For services to Foster Care (London, Greater London)
Dalim Kumar BASU – Honorary Chair and Volunteer, British Computer Society, North, Central and South London Branches. For services to Young People and the Promotion of Science and Technology (London, Greater London)
Mohammed Younis CHAUDHRY Owner and Founder, Regal Food Products Plc. For services to Business and to the community in Bradford (Bradford, West Yorkshire)
Professor Bhaskar DASGUPTA – Consultant Rheumatologist, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. For services to People with Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica (Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex)
Rabiyah Kauser LATIF – Near Neighbours Coordinator, Thrive Together Birmingham. For services to Faith and Community Cohesion (Walsall, West Midlands)
Ahsan Zameer RAFEEQ – Deputy Head, International Marketing, Department for Business and Trade. For services to Investment and Marketing (London, Greater London)
Ishaque Benny Aslam RAFIQI – Founder, Let’s Feed Brum and Tabor House. For services to Tackling Homelessness and to the community in Birmingham and the West Midlands (Bromsgrove, Worcestershire)
Salma Bibi RAVAT – Chief Executive Officer, One Roof Leicester. For services to Tackling Homelessness (Leicester, Leicestershire)
Imran Hussain SHAH – Chair, Police Independent Advisory Group and Community Leader, West Yorkshire Police. For services to Policing and to the community in West Yorkshire (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Aman SHARMA – Chief Executive Officer, Totus Digital. For services to Building and Fire Safety (Richmond, Greater London)
Professor Ajay Jaikishore VORA – Lately Consultant Paediatric Haematologist, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Childhood Leukaemia (London, Greater London)
Chandni Kalpesh VORA – Chief Operating Officer, Vascroft Contractors Ltd. For services to Business and to Charity (London, Greater London)
Moawia Bin-Sufyan MBE MStJ JP. For services to Community Cohesion and Inter-Faith Relations in South Wales.
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Aisha Younis ABDUS SAMAD – Short Breaks Carer, Slough Children First, Berkshire. For services to Children and Young People with SEND (Slough, Berkshire)
Kamran Ishaq ABDUS SAMAD – Short Breaks Carer, Slough Children First, Berkshire. For services to Children and Young People with SEND (Slough, Berkshire)
Mirza Khudadad AHMED – Immigration Officer, Home Office. For Public Service (Birmingham, West Midlands)
Nazim ALI – Founder, Creating Smiles Hospital Gifts Initiative. For services to Charity and to Homeless and Vulnerable People in Bradford, West Yorkshire (Bradford, West Yorkshire)
Maira Shernaz BANA – Co-founder, SheCanEngineer. For services to Diversity in Engineering (London, Greater London)
Sanjib BHATTACHARJEE – For services to the community in the London Boroughs of Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest (London, Greater London)
Mohammad FAYYAZ – Councillor, Chesham Town Council and Buckinghamshire Council. For services to the community in Chesham (Chesham, Buckinghamshire)
Hemandra HINDOCHA – Postmaster, Westcotes Post Office. For services to the Post Office and to the community in the Midlands (Leicester, Leicestershire)
Jaswinder KUMAR – President, Management Committee of Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha Bedford. For Charitable Services in Bedford (Bedford, Bedfordshire)
Safeena Karen MOHAMMED – Foster Carer, Warwickshire County Council. For services to Foster Care (Coventry, Warwickshire)
Preshanthi Devarani NAVARATNAM – Executive Assistant, Department for Education. For Public, Voluntary and Charitable Service (Doncaster, South Yorkshire)
Asma PANDOR – Lead Admiral Nurse, Dementia UK, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Nursing (Gloucester, Gloucestershire)
Balbir SINGH (Balbir Singh Khanpur Bhujhangy) – Musician. For services to Bhangra Music and to Punjabi Culture in the West Midlands (Smethwick, West Midlands)
