Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has announced Rita Shukla as the recipient of the 2026 IFFCO Sahitya Samman and Sarvesh Tiwari as the winner of the IFFCO Yuva Sahitya Samman for his book Punyapath.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony in New Delhi on November 6, 2026.
The selection committee was headed by Prof. Shri Bhagwan Singh and included senior litterateur Devendra Kumar Behl, poet Prof. Jitendra Srivastava, writer-critic Anant Vijay, novelist Manisha Kulshreshtha and member-secretary Dr Nalin Vikas.
Born in Dehri-on-Sone, Bihar, on November 14, 1949, Shukla has published nine novels and 11 short-story collections. Her notable works include Samadhan, Bandho Na Naav Is Thaanv, Arundhati and Kitne Janam Vaidehi. Several of her stories and novels have been adapted into television serials and telefilms. Her writing is known for its sensitive portrayal of human suffering and emphasis on human welfare.
Sarvesh Tiwari, born in Gopalganj, Bihar, in 1988, is a teacher, poet and popular writer. All three of his published books, Parat, Punyapath and Purnahuti, have become bestsellers.
Punyapath narrates the struggles of a Pakistani Hindu family forced to leave its village and migrate to India. The book explores Partition-era mistakes, the condition of Hindus left behind in Pakistan and the challenges faced by migrants after arriving in India.
Instituted in 2011, the IFFCO Sahitya Samman recognises Hindi writers whose works primarily depict rural and agricultural life. The main award carries Rs 11 lakh, while the youth award carries Rs 2.5 lakh, along with a citation and memento.
