Sahitya Akademi literary awards postponed last minute after Culture Ministry steps in

Entertainment Dec 18, 2025

The 2025 Sahitya Akademi literary awards ceremony, set for December 18 in Delhi, was called off just minutes before it began.
The Culture Ministry stepped in, pointing to a recent agreement that says the Akademi can't announce awards without the Ministry's go-ahead—even though winners had already been picked.

Why does this matter?

This sudden move means authors who were about to be honored are left waiting, and it highlights government oversight of cultural bodies.
There's also ongoing concern about how transparent and fair the award process really is—especially when recommendations from language experts get ignored.
The incident demonstrates how creative recognition can be affected by official procedures.