In a study commissioned by popular 24-hour music channel MTV to find the Icon of the Year, young people across the country have overwhelmingly voted for Anil Ambani, vice chairman and managing director, Reliance Industries Ltd, and chairman, BSES Ltd.

Anil Ambani, who was nominated in the business category, emerged winner from a star-studded line-up, which included President APJ Abdul Kalam (science & academics), Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (politics), Lok Sabha MP Maneka Gandhi (social welfare), cricketer Sachin Tendulkar (sports), actor Shah Rukh Khan (films) and television actress Smriti Malhotra (television).

"I cherish being voted as the MTV Youth Icon of the Year. Young people are the future of our nation and they give me the strength to carry forward the vision of my late father, Dhirubhai Ambani, of making India a successful and super reliant power house."

In May this year, MTV India commissioned Indian Marketing Research Bureau to conduct a study among the youth in eight cities -- Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and New Delhi -- and identify their icons.

The study revealed seven Indian nominees from different walks of life. The nominees were profiled on MTV, and viewers were invited to vote for their 'Youth Icon'.

As the MTV Youth Icon of the Year, Anil Ambani will be invited to speak to the youth of India through a one-hour special, which will be aired, on MTV.

Announcing the result, Alex Kuruvilla, managing director, MTV Networks India said, "By choosing Anil Ambani as the MTV Youth Icon of the Year, the Indian youth have clearly indicated that they admire a person who can compete with the best and win. Anil Ambani is symbolic of young Indian's aspiration."