Jnanpith Award

Source: PIB

Context: President of India presented the 58th Jnanpith Award to Jagadguru Rambhadracharya (Sanskrit) in New Delhi.

• Renowned poet Gulzar (Urdu poet) also received the award but could not attend due to health reasons.

About Jnanpith Award:

• What is the Jnanpith Award? India’s highest literary honour, awarded annually for outstanding contribution to Indian literature.

• India’s highest literary honour, awarded annually for outstanding contribution to Indian literature.

• Established in: 1961 by the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust, founded by industrialist Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain.

• Objective: To honour literary excellence in Indian languages and promote the cultural and intellectual heritage of India.

• Historical Background: Idea conceived on Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain’s 50th birthday (22 May 1961). First award conferred in 1965.

• Idea conceived on Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain’s 50th birthday (22 May 1961).

• First award conferred in 1965.

• Eligibility Criteria: Only Indian citizens are eligible. The award is open to all Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and English. (from the 49th award). A language becomes ineligible for 3 years once awarded.

• Only Indian citizens are eligible.

• The award is open to all Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and English. (from the 49th award).

• A language becomes ineligible for 3 years once awarded.

• Selection Process: Proposals Invited: From universities, literary bodies, critics, and readers across the country. Language Advisory Committees (LACs): Each language has a 3-member committee of literary experts. LACs are reconstituted every 3 years. Free to consider names beyond submitted proposals. Evaluation Criteria: Comprehensive assessment of an author’s entire literary contribution. Must reflect contemporary relevance and cultural impact. Selection Board: Comprises 7 to 11 eminent scholars of high integrity. Recommendations from LACs are reviewed for final decision. Award Details: Award Components: Cash prize (currently ₹11 lakh), Citation and plaque. Earlier awarded for a specific work (first 17 awards); now recognizes overall literary contribution.

• Proposals Invited: From universities, literary bodies, critics, and readers across the country.

• Language Advisory Committees (LACs): Each language has a 3-member committee of literary experts. LACs are reconstituted every 3 years. Free to consider names beyond submitted proposals.

• Each language has a 3-member committee of literary experts.

• LACs are reconstituted every 3 years.

• Free to consider names beyond submitted proposals.

• Evaluation Criteria: Comprehensive assessment of an author’s entire literary contribution. Must reflect contemporary relevance and cultural impact.

• Comprehensive assessment of an author’s entire literary contribution.

• Must reflect contemporary relevance and cultural impact.

• Selection Board: Comprises 7 to 11 eminent scholars of high integrity. Recommendations from LACs are reviewed for final decision.

• Comprises 7 to 11 eminent scholars of high integrity.

• Recommendations from LACs are reviewed for final decision.

• Award Details: Award Components: Cash prize (currently ₹11 lakh), Citation and plaque. Earlier awarded for a specific work (first 17 awards); now recognizes overall literary contribution.

• Award Components: Cash prize (currently ₹11 lakh), Citation and plaque.

• Cash prize (currently ₹11 lakh),

• Citation and plaque.

• Earlier awarded for a specific work (first 17 awards); now recognizes overall literary contribution.