The winners of the 2025 Sahitya Akademi Awards were announced on March 16. This year, the Awards were presented in 24 Indian languages, comprising eight books of poetry, four novels, six books of short stories, two essays, one literary criticism, one autobiography, and two memoirs.
Each winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and an engraved copper plaque at a ceremony on March 31 in Delhi.
The awards come nearly three months after the Akademi had, on December 18, 2025, cancelled its press conference for the announcement following a last-minute directive from the Union Ministry of Culture, which had cited a need for the “restructuring” of the awards.
Here is the complete list of winners:
Assamese: Karhi Khelar Sadhu (Novel), Devabrat Das
Bengali: Shrestha Kabita (Poetry), Prasun Bandyopadhyay
Bodo: Dwngnwi Lama Mwnse Gathwn (Novel), Sahaisuli Brahma
Dogri: Thakur Satsayie (Poetry, Couplets), Khajur Singh Thakur
English: Crimson Spring (Novel), Navtej Sarna
Gujarati: Bhattkhadaki (Poetry), Yogesh Vaidya
Hindi: Jeete Jee Allahabad (Memoir), Mamta Kalia
Kannada: Dada Seerisu Tande (Short stories), Amaresh Nugadoni
Kashmiri: Najdavanek’y Pot Aalav (Poetry), Ali Shaida
Konkani: Konkani Kavyem: Rupani Ani Rupakam (Essays), Henry Mendonca
Maithili: Dhatri Paat San Gaam (Memoir), Mahendra
Malayalam: Maayaamanushyar (Novel), N Prabhakaran
Manipuri: Kanglamdriba Eephut (Short stories), Haobam Nalini
Marathi: Kalyanilya Resha (Autobiography), Raju Baviskar
Nepali: Nepali Paramparik Sanskriti Ra Sabhyata Ko Dukuti (Essays), Prakash Bhattarai
Odia: Padapurana (Poetry), Girijakumar Baliyar Singh
Punjabi: Safety Kit (Short stories), Jinder
Rajasthani: Bharkhama (Short stories), Jitender Kumar Soni
Sanskrit: Prasthanacatustaye Brahmaghosah (Poetry), Mahamahopadhyaya Sadhu Bhadreshdas
Santali: Mid Birna Chenne Saon Inag Sagai (Short stories), Sumitra Soren
Sindhi: Waghoo (Short stories), Bhagwan Atlani
Tamil: Thamiz Sirukathaiyin Thadangal (Literary criticism), Sa. Tamilselvan
Telugu: Animesha (Poetry), Nandini Sidha Reddy
Urdu: Safar Jaari Hai (Poetry), Pritpal Singh Betab
