Tholkappiar Award 2026: ₹10,000 Financial Assistance for Authors
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Quick answer
The Tholkappiar Award provides ₹10,000 financial assistance and a certificate to writers and authors from Puducherry for outstanding research publications. Eligibility requires being a writer, born or resident in Puducherry for five years, and submitting a research book of at least 150 pages. Apply offline by submitting the application form and required documents to the Department of Art and Culture.
At a glance
| Main benefit | ₹10,000 financial assistance |
| Ministry / department | Arts and Culture Department, Puducherry |
| Level | State Government (Puducherry) |
| Application mode | Offline |
About the scheme
The Tholkappiar Award is a state scheme run by the Arts and Culture Department of Puducherry. It recognises writers and authors who produce high‑quality research books in Tamil literature. The award gives ₹10,000 and a certificate to the selected author. Applicants must be writers, be born in Puducherry or have lived there for at least five years, and submit a research book of at least 150 pages that has been printed and published as a first edition by the end of the previous year. The application is made offline at the department office or by downloading the form, filling it, attaching the required documents and submitting it to the superintendent.
Benefits
- ₹10,000 financial assistance and certificate
Who can apply (eligibility)
- Applicant must be a writer/author.
- Applicant must be born in Puducherry or have resided in Puducherry for five years or have continuous residence before the application date.
- Applicant must submit a research book of at least 150 pages.
- First edition must be printed and published by December 31 of the specified year.
- Essays and dissertations for university degrees or examinations are not eligible.
- One-time awardee is ineligible to apply for the subsequent four years.
- Texts must not be an abridgement, adaptation, translation, or paraphrase of another text.
- Novels, short stories, poetry, drama, travelogues, and collections of essays are not eligible.
- Thesis editor must be in Tamil language only.
- Thesis must be published in the calendar year preceding the award year and not published in the previous year.
Who cannot apply
- Essays and dissertations for university degrees or examinations are not eligible.
- Novels, short stories, poetry, drama, travelogues, and collections of essays are not eligible.
- One-time awardee is ineligible to apply for the subsequent four years.
- Texts that are abridgement, adaptation, translation, or paraphrase of another text are not eligible.
- Thesis editor must be in Tamil language only.
- Thesis must be published in the calendar year preceding the award year and not published in the previous year.
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 and request the hard copy of the application form.
- 2Fill in all mandatory fields, paste a passport‑size photograph, and attach copies of all required documents.
- 3Submit the signed application form along with the documents to the superintendent at No.1, Roman Roland Road, Puducherry 605 001.
- 4Request a receipt or acknowledgment from the superintendent confirming submission details.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the Tholkappiar Award?+
Applicants must be born in Puducherry, have resided in Puducherry for five years, or have continuous residence within the jurisdiction before the application date.
Can an author apply more than once?+
No, a one‑time awardee is ineligible to apply for the subsequent four years.
What types of texts are not eligible?+
Essays and dissertations for university degrees or examinations are not eligible. Novels, short stories, poetry, drama, travelogues, and collections of essays are not eligible. Texts that are abridgement, adaptation, translation, or paraphrase of another text are not eligible.
What is the minimum page requirement?+
Research books must not be less than 150 pages.
When must the first edition be printed?+
The first edition must have been printed and published by December 31 of the year preceding the award year.
What documents must be included?+
Passport‑size photo, residence certificate, birth certificate, author biographies, and five copies of the text.
Will the submitted texts be returned?+
No, the texts received for the competition cannot be returned for any reason.
What is the award amount?+
₹10,000 and a certificate.
Who selects the prize-winning books?+
A panel of experts nominated by the Government will scrutinise and select the prize‑winning books.
Is there an age limit?+
No, there is no age limit.
Can more than one award be given in a year?+
Yes, the Government can provide more than one award if deemed necessary.
What happens if there are issues in implementation?+
The Government's decision regarding any issues in the implementation of the scheme is final and cannot be contested in court.
Can the rules be amended?+
Yes, the Government has full power to change, delete, or amend the rules.
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)