The Union Higher Education Ministry has discontinued the ‘Shiksha Puraskar’, launched by the Centre in 1992 for encouraging original writings in Hindi.

• The decision is part of the Union Home Ministry’s move to rationalise various awards instituted by the Centre.
• The ‘Hinditar Bhashi Hindi Lekhak Puraskar’, an award given to promote writings in Hindi by writers from non-Hindi speaking areas, has also been discontinued.
• Under the ‘Shiksha Puraskar’, five awards worth Rs. 1 lakh each is given every year. The ‘Hinditar Bhashi Hindi Lekhak Puraskar’ carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000.