Sahitya Akademi Award

• The Union Ministry of Culture recently expressed its intent to change the process of nomination for the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Awards.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

• The award was established in 1954.
• It is a literary honour, conferred annually on writers of most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages.
• Besides 22 languages enumerated in Constitution, English and Rajasthani language are also recognised.
• The Sahitya Akademi award is the second-highest literary honour by the Government of India, after the Jnanpith award.
• Award includes a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque, a shawl and an amount of Rs. 1,00,000/-
• The Sahitya Akademi functions as an autonomous organisation registered as a society under Societies Registration Act, 1860.

ABOUT JNANPITH AWARD

• It is the highest literary award in India and can only be conferred annually upon an Indian citizen.
• English along with other languages in 8th Schedule, is considered for the Award.
• Award carries cash award of Rs. 11 lakhs, a citation, and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati), the goddess of learning.
• It is sponsored by the cultural organization Bharatiya Jnanpith.