Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2025 Winners | Complete List of 23 Young Authors

The Sahitya Akademi, India’s national academy of letters and an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has made a landmark announcement recognizing the extraordinary contributions of young writers to Indian literature. Under the esteemed leadership of Sri Madhav Kaushik, President of the Sahitya Akademi, the Executive Board convened to finalize the recipients of the prestigious Yuva Puraskar 2025.

Complete List of Yuva Puraskar 2025 Recipients

Comprehensive Winner’s Table

The following table presents the complete list of 23 distinguished winners of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2025, organized by language with their respective works and authors:

Genre Diversity and Literary Richness

Comprehensive Literary Representation

The Yuva Puraskar 2025 winners represent an impressive diversity of literary genres, showcasing the breadth and depth of contemporary Indian writing by young authors. This diversity reflects the dynamic nature of modern Indian literature and the varied interests and talents of emerging writers.

Poetry Collections: The largest category with 8 works, including contributions in Bengali, Bodo, Hindi, Maithili, Nepali, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Santali, and Sindhi languages, demonstrating the continued vitality of poetic expression among young writers.

Short Stories: 4 collections spanning Assamese, Konkani, Odia, and Tamil languages, showing the enduring popularity of short fiction as a medium for contemporary storytelling.

Novels: 4 significant works in English, Malayalam, Marathi, Telugu, and Urdu, representing substantial literary achievements by young novelists.

Criticism and Essays: 3 analytical works in Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, and Sanskrit, indicating serious scholarly engagement by young writers with literary and philosophical questions.

Epic Literature: 1 remarkable work in Manipuri, showing the continuation of traditional epic forms in contemporary writing.

Cultural and Linguistic Significance

Each selected work represents not only individual literary achievement but also contributes to the preservation and evolution of its respective language’s literary tradition. The diversity of genres ensures that various aspects of human experience and artistic expression are represented in this year’s awards.

Award Structure and Recognition Package

Comprehensive Recognition Framework

The Yuva Puraskar 2025 recipients will receive substantial recognition that acknowledges both the symbolic and practical value of their literary achievements. The award structure is designed to provide meaningful support to young writers at crucial stages of their literary careers.

Symbolic Recognition: Each winner will receive an elegant casket containing an engraved copper plaque, serving as a permanent symbol of their literary accomplishment and their contribution to Indian literature. This physical recognition connects them to the prestigious tradition of the Sahitya Akademi awards.

Financial Support: Along with symbolic recognition, each recipient will receive a significant monetary award of Rs. 50,000. This financial component acknowledges the economic challenges faced by young writers and provides practical support for their continued literary endeavors.

Special Award Ceremony

The Sahitya Akademi has announced plans for a special ceremonial function to be held at a later date for the formal presentation of these awards. This ceremony will provide an important platform for celebrating the achievements of these young writers and highlighting their contributions to contemporary Indian literature.

The ceremony serves multiple purposes: it provides public recognition for the winners, creates networking opportunities within the literary community, and demonstrates the Akademi’s commitment to supporting emerging talent.

Jury Recommendations and Expert Validation

Expert Panel Composition

The credibility of the Yuva Puraskar 2025 is reinforced by the expertise and reputation of the jury members whose recommendations formed the basis for the final selections. Annexure ‘B’ of the official documentation contains detailed information about these jury members, whose collective expertise spans the entire spectrum of Indian languages and literary traditions.

Democratic Decision-Making Process

The transparent nature of the selection process, with its emphasis on majority and unanimous voting by expert juries, ensures that the awards maintain their reputation for excellence. This democratic approach prevents bias and ensures that selections are based purely on literary merit.

Impact on Contemporary Indian Literature

Encouraging Young Voices

The Yuva Puraskar 2025 plays a crucial role in encouraging young writers to pursue literary careers and contribute to India’s cultural landscape. By providing recognition and financial support at early stages of their careers, the award helps establish a foundation for sustained literary contribution.

Language Preservation and Innovation

Through its multilingual approach, the Yuva Puraskar contributes significantly to the preservation and development of India’s diverse languages. Young writers often bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to traditional languages, helping them evolve while maintaining their cultural essence.

Literary Ecosystem Development

The award contributes to building a robust literary ecosystem by creating connections between young writers, established authors, publishers, and readers. This networking effect multiplies the impact of individual recognition into broader literary community development.