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Sports & Culture; Social welfare & Empowerment

Tholkappiar Award

The scheme "Tholkappiar Award" was launched by the Arts and Culture Department, Puducherry. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to writers and authors for outstanding research publications in Tamil literature.

Authority

State/ UT

Region

Puducherry

Status

Verified 2026

Updated

March 2026

What you get

- Financial Assistance of ₹10,000/-. with an award and certificate.

Who can apply

The applicant should be a writer/author.; The applicant should be born in Puducherry or a resident of Puducherry for five years or have continuous residence before the date of application in the jurisdiction to exist.; The applicant should submit research books not less than 150 pages.; The applicant should submit texts that must have been printed and published as a first edition by December 31 of the specified year.; Essays and dissertations submitted for university degrees or examinations are not eligible.; A one-time awardee is ineligible to apply for the subsequent four years.; The texts submitted for competition should not be an abridgment, adaptation, translation, or paraphrase of another text.; Novels, short stories, poetry, drama, travelogues, and collections of essays are not eligible for the Tholkappiar Award.; The thesis editor should be in Tamil language only.; The thesis submitted for the Tholkappiar Award should be published in the calendar year preceding the year of the award. It should not have been published in the previous year.

Required Paperwork

  • Aadhaar Card
  • PAN Card
  • Income Certificate
  • Residence Proof (Domicile)

Common Questions

Who is eligible to apply for the Tolkappyar Prize?

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 for the Tolkappyar Prize more than once?

No, an awardee under this scheme is ineligible to apply for the subsequent four years.

Are there any restrictions on the types of texts that can be submitted for the competition?

Yes, texts must not be an abridgement, adaptation, translation, or paraphrase of another text. Categories such as novels, short stories, poetry, drama, travelogue, and collection of essays are not eligible.

What is the minimum page requirement for research books applying for the Tolkappyar Prize?

Research books must not be less than 150 pages.

When should the first edition of the text have been printed and published?

The first edition must have been printed and published by December 31 of the year preceding the award year.

What must be included with each publication submission?

A separate application form and five copies of the text must be included with each submission.

Will the submitted texts be returned to the applicants?

No, the texts received for the competition cannot be returned for any reason.

What is the award for winning the Tolkappyar Prize?

The author will receive [?]10,000 and a certificate.

Who selects the prize-winning books?

A panel of experts nominated by the Government will scrutinize and select the prize-winning books.

Is there an age limit for applicants?

No, there is no age limit for applicants.

Can more than one award be given in a given year?

Yes, the Government has the power to provide more than one award if deemed necessary.

What happens if there are issues in the implementation of the scheme?

The Government's decision regarding any issues in the implementation of the scheme is final and cannot be contested in court.

Can the rules of the Tolkappyar Prize be amended?

Yes, the Government has full power to change, delete, or amend the rules relating to the award as necessary.