Nehru Child Literature Prize 2026: ₹10,000 for Tamil Children's Books
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Quick answer
The Nehru Child Literature Prize provides financial assistance of ₹10,000 and a certificate to authors of Tamil children's books. Authors must be from Puducherry or have resided there for at least five years. Applications are accepted offline with specific documents and forms.
At a glance
| Main benefit | ₹10,000 and a certificate |
| Ministry / department | Arts and Culture Department, Puducherry |
| Level | State Government (Puducherry) |
| Application mode | Offline |
About the scheme
The scheme aims to encourage writers of children's literature in Tamil by providing financial support and recognition. Eligible works include novels, short stories, poems, plays, travelogues, and collections of essays, published as first editions in the specified year. Applicants need to submit a completed application form along with necessary documents to the Arts and Culture Department of Puducherry.
Benefits
- Financial Assistance of ₹10,000/- with a certificate.
Who can apply (eligibility)
- The applicant should be a writer/author/ joint author.
- The applicant should be a native of Puducherry by virtue of birth or continuous residence of not less than five years.
- The applicant should submit texts that must be printed and published as first edition by 31st December from the first day of the specified year.
- A one-time awardee is ineligible to apply for the subsequent four years.
- The applicant should not submit an abridgment, adaptation, translation, or paraphrase of another text for the competition.
- Essay and thesis submitted for a university degree or examination are not eligible.
- The texts written for the syllabus will not be accepted.
- Children's literature should be published in Tamil not exceeding 120 pages.
- Foundation lectures, serials in journals, etc. will not be accepted.
Who cannot apply
- Texts that are translations, abridgments, adaptations, or paraphrases of other texts.
- Works submitted for university degrees or examinations.
- Texts written for syllabus use.
- Texts exceeding 120 pages.
Documents required
- Passport-size Photo.
- Residence Certificate.
- Birth Certificate.
- Author Biographies.
- Five Copies of the Text.
How to apply
- 1Visit the Department of Art and Culture during office hours to request a hard copy of the application form or download it from the official website.
- 2Fill in all mandatory fields in the application form, paste a signed passport-sized photograph, and attach all required documents.
- 3Submit the completed application form and documents to the Department of Art and Culture, Puducherry.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nehru Child Literature Prize?+
It is an award given to authors of children's literature published in Tamil, aimed at recognising and encouraging quality writing for children.
Who is eligible to apply for the Nehru Child Literature Prize?+
Authors born in Puducherry or who have resided continuously in Puducherry for at least five years are eligible.
What type of works are eligible for submission?+
Novels, short stories, poems, plays, travelogues, collections of essays, and other children's literature in Tamil.
What is the prize for the winning author?+
The winner will receive ₹10,000/- along with a certificate.
Can an author who has won before apply again?+
No, a previous winner is ineligible to apply for four years after winning.
Are translated or adapted works eligible?+
No, translations, abridgments, adaptations, or paraphrases are not eligible.
What are the application requirements?+
Complete the application form, submit five copies of the text, and ensure the author's signature on the form.
What is the page limit for the children's literature?+
Not exceeding 120 pages.
How are the works evaluated?+
By a five-member committee of experts appointed by the Government.
Can joint works be submitted?+
Yes, and the prize money will be shared among the authors if they win.
What if there are issues with the scheme?+
The Government's decision is final.
Can the scheme regulations be changed?+
Yes, the Government can amend or delete provisions as needed.
When must the texts be published to be eligible?+
They must be printed and published as first editions by 31st December of the specified year.
NaukriZila is not a government website. Apply only on the official portal; never pay anyone to apply for a government scheme. Source: myScheme (Government of India)