The Sahitya Akademi will present the annual Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 awards on November 14, 2025 . The ceremony takes place at Triveni Auditorium in New Delhi. The awards celebrate excellence in children’s literature across 24 Indian languages.
Sahitya Akademi President Madhav Kaushik will present the awards. Celebrated Gujarati writer Varsha Das will attend as Chief Guest. The Bal Sahitya Puraskar aims to promote quality writing for children across India’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape.
Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 Winners Announced
The following individuals are among the awardees for their contributions to children’s literature in various Indian languages:
| Language | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Assamese | Surendra Mohan Das | Poetry |
| Bengali | Tridib Kumar Chattopadhyay | Stories |
| Bodo | Binay Kumar Brahma | Stories |
| Dogri | P.L. Parihar ‘Shauq’ | Poetry |
| English | Nitin Kushalappa MP | Stories |
| Gujarati | Kirtida Brahmbhatt | Poetry |
| Hindi | Susheel Shukla | Non-fiction |
| Kannada | K. Shivalingappa Handihal | Short Stories |
| Kashmiri | Izhar Mubashir | Short Stories |
| Konkani | Nayana Adarkar | Stories |
| Maithili | Munni Kamat | Short Stories |
| Malayalam | Sreejith Moothedath | Novel |
| Manipuri | Shanto M. | Play |
| Marathi | Suresh Govindrao Sawant | Poetry |
| Nepali | Sangmu Lepcha | Novel |
| Odia | Rajakishore Parhi | Poetry |
| Punjabi | Pali Khadim (Amrit Pal Singh) | Novel |
| Rajasthani | Bhogilal Patidar | Play |
| Sanskrit | Preeti R. Pujara | Poetry |
| Santali | Haralal Murmu | Poetry |
| Sindhi | Heena Agnani ‘Heer’ | Poetry |
| Tamil | Vishnupuram Sarvanan | Novel |
| Telugu | Gangisetty Sivakumar | Story |
| Urdu | Ghazanfar Iqbal | Articles |
KVS and NVS Drive Equitable Education Across India
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) are two major national school networks. Both operate under the Ministry of Education. They are key pillars in the Indian education system, serving over 15 lakh students nationwide. These schools aim to promote equity and quality education, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 objectives.
KVS provides education primarily to children of transferable Central Government employees. NVS focuses on talented children from rural areas. These initiatives help bridge the rural-urban education gap. Both systems receive full funding from the Central Government. For the academic year 2024-25, NVS received a total allocation of Rs. 6,000.83 crore .
In a significant expansion, the Union Cabinet recently approved the establishment of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas . Additionally, 28 new Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas received approval. This expansion will extend access to quality education to more students across various regions.
Digital Transformation Enhances Learning in KVS and NVS
KVS and NVS have embraced digital transformation, in line with NEP 2020 guidelines. These efforts aim to modernize learning environments and improve educational outcomes. KVS updated its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) framework in October 2025 . This update resulted in 90% of its schools being equipped with smart classrooms.
Navodaya Vidyalayas have also made substantial progress in digital integration. NVS established 9,417 smart classrooms across its network. It also set up 312 digital language labs under the PM SHRI Project. These digital tools include AI-based resources. They provide interactive learning experiences and access to advanced educational content.
The commitment to building better facilities and using technology helps KVS and NVS. They strive to provide quality education for all students. These advancements support India’s vision for a robust, inclusive education system, strengthening nation-building.