The Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025, conferred by the Sahitya Akademi (India’s National Academy of Letters), recognises outstanding works in children’s literature across 24 Indian languages.
1. 🏅 Key Highlights
- Conferring Body: Sahitya Akademi (under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India).
- Purpose: To promote and recognise literary contributions to children’s literature in Indian languages.
- Total Awards: 24 awards announced (one for each recognised language).
- Award: A casket containing an engraved copper plaque and a cash prize of ₹50,000.
- Eligibility: The awarded books must have been first published during the five years immediately preceding the award year (i.e., between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023).
2. 📝 Notable Winners (Key Languages)
The awardees for major languages are as follows:
| Language | Winner | Work (Genre) |
| Assamese | Surendra Mohan Das | Mainaahantar Padya (Poetry) |
| Bengali | Tridib Kumar Chattopadhyay | Ekhono Gaye Kanta Daye (Stories) |
| Bodo | Binay Kumar Brahma | Khanthi Bwswn Arw Akhu Danai (Stories) |
| Dogri | P.L. Parihar “Shauq” | Nanhi Tor (Poetry) |
| English | Nitin Kushalappa MP | Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold (Stories) |
| Gujarati | Kirtida Brahmbhatt | Tinchak (Poetry) |
| Hindi | Susheel Shukla | Ek Batey Barah (Short Stories/Non-fiction) |
| Kannada | K. Shivalingappa Handihal | Notebook (Short Stories) |
| Kashmiri | Izhar Mubashir | Shure Te Tchure Gyush (Short Stories) |
| Konkani | Nayana Adarkar | Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo (Stories) |
| Maithili | Munni Kamat | Chukka (Short Stories) |
| Malayalam | Sreejith Moothedath | Penguinukalude Vankarayil (Novel) |
| Manipuri | Shanto M. | Angangshing-Gee Shannabungshida (Play) |
| Marathi | Suresh Sawant | Aabhalmaya (Poetry) |
| Nepali | Sangmu Lepcha | Shanti Van (Novel) |
| Odia | Rajakishore Parhi | Kete Phula Phutichi (Poetry) |
| Punjabi | Pali Khadim (Amrit Pal Singh) | Jadoo Patta (Novel) |
| Rajasthani | Bhogilal Patidar | Pankheruvan Ni Pira (Drama) |
| Sanskrit | Preeti R. Pujara | Balvisvam (Poetry) |
| Santali | Haralal Murmu | Sona Miru-ag Sandesh (Poetry) |
| Sindhi | Heena Agnani ‘Heer’ | Asmani Pari (Poetry) |
| Tamil | Vishnupuram Sarvanan | Ottrai Siragu Oviya (Novel) |
| Telugu | Gangisetti Sivakumar | Kaburla Devatha (Story) |
| Urdu | Ghazanfar Iqbal | Qaumi Sitare (Articles) |
3. ✨ Significance
- Cultural Diversity: The awards celebrate storytelling rooted in regional culture, language, and values, reflecting the linguistic diversity of India.
- Nurturing Young Readers: It aims to inspire young readers and encourage emerging writers to contribute high-quality, original content.
- Complementary Award: This award is distinct from the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar, which is given to young writers (aged 35 or less).