Why in NEWS
The Sahitya Akademi (India’s National Academy of Letters) has announced the winners of the Yuva Puraskar for 23 young writers and Bal Sahitya Puraskar for 24 authors in 24 recognised Indian languages for the year 2025.
Key Terms & Concepts
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sahitya Akademi | India’s National Academy of Letters established in 1954, promoting Indian literature across languages. |
| Yuva Puraskar | Annual award recognising literary talent among young Indian authors aged 35 or below. |
| Bal Sahitya Puraskar | Annual award recognising original literature for children aged 9–16 years. |
| Bhasha Samman | An award for contributions to classical, medieval, and unrecognised Indian languages. |
Award Details – Yuva Puraskar and Bal Sahitya Puraskar
| Category | Yuva Puraskar | Bal Sahitya Puraskar |
|---|---|---|
| Established in | 2011 | 2010 |
| Purpose | Recognise young authors (≤35 years) | Honour children’s literature (ages 9–16) |
| Prize Components | ₹50,000, copper plaque, citation | ₹50,000, plaque, shawl, citation |
| Eligible Languages | 24 recognised Indian languages (including English) | 24 recognised Indian languages |
| Eligibility Criteria | Original work, published in the last 5 years, minimum 49 pages, only one award per author per language | Original creative work published in past 5 years, minimum 3 entries per language for award consideration |
| Ineligible Works | Translations, abridgements, theses, e-books, posthumous works, NRI/PIO/dual citizen authors | Translations, abridgements, theses, anthologies, works by Board members or previous Bhasha Samman winners |
Selection Process for Both Awards
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Entry Call | Public call for eligible entries |
| 2. Evaluation | Preliminary review by subject experts |
| 3. Jury Review | Finalised by 3-member language-specific jury |
| 4. Approval | Vetted and approved by the Executive Board |
| 5. Announcement | Winners declared in an official ceremony |
About Sahitya Akademi and Other Awards
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Establishment | Formally inaugurated in 1954; registered as a society in 1956 |
| Headquarters | New Delhi with regional offices in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Agartala |
| Key Functions | Promote inter-language literary exchange, encourage translations, and publish literary works |
| Publications | Journals, monographs, anthologies, encyclopedias, bibliographies, literary histories |
| Awards | 24 Sahitya Akademi Literary Awards, 24 Translation Awards, Bhasha Samman, Fellowships (Premchand, Coomaraswamy) |
| Sahitya Akademi Award | Second-highest Indian literary honour after Jnanpith; awarded for works in 22 scheduled languages plus English and Rajasthani |
In a Nutshell
Memory Code: “WRITE YOUNG KIDS”
Winners across 24 languages
Recognises original Indian literature
Initiated in 2010 and 2011
Targets young authors and children’s writers
Excludes translations and theses
Yuva and Bal Sahitya celebrated
Once-per-author rule
Unique jury selection system
National level recognition
Grants ₹50,000 per award
Knowledge exchange across languages
Inter-lingual encouragement
Dedicated to literary excellence
Sahitya Akademi backed
Prelims Practice Questions
- Which of the following is not eligible for the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar?
A. A translated novel
B. An original poetry collection by a 30-year-old Indian citizen
C. A novel published four years ago
D. A literary critique with 55 pages - In which year was the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar instituted?
A. 2005
B. 2010
C. 2011
D. 2001 - Which is the highest literary award conferred by the Government of India?
A. Sahitya Akademi Award
B. Bhasha Samman
C. Jnanpith Award
D. Yuva Puraskar
Mains Practice Questions
- Discuss the significance of Sahitya Akademi’s Yuva and Bal Sahitya Puraskars in nurturing literary culture in India. (GS 1 – Indian Heritage & Culture)
- Evaluate the role of Sahitya Akademi in preserving linguistic diversity and promoting inter-lingual literary exchange in India. (GS 1 – Culture)
Prelims Answer Key & Explanation
| Ques | Ans | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Translations are explicitly ineligible for Yuva Puraskar |
| 2 | B | Bal Sahitya Puraskar was established in 2010 |
| 3 | C | Jnanpith is India’s highest literary honour |
