Award overview
Ilakkiya Maamani Award 2025: The Ilakkiya Maamani Award was established in 2021 by the Tamil Development Department of Tamil Nadu. It honours distinguished Tamil scholars under three categories: Traditional Tamil, Research Tamil, and Creative Tamil.
Static GK fact: The award carries a cash prize, a gold medal and a citation.
In November 2025, the state Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented the awards to three scholars for the year 2024-25.
2025 Awardees and categories
The three recipients are:
- Gnanasundaram (Traditional Tamil)
- Kamarasu (Research Tamil)
- Somasundaram “Kalapriya” (Creative Tamil)
Each scholar received Rs 5 lakh, a gold medal, and a citation.
Significance of the award
This award strengthens recognition of Tamil language and literature. It places value on maintaining classical traditions, promoting in-depth research, and encouraging creative work in Tamil.
Static GK fact: The award was notified on 03 June 2021, coinciding with the birth anniversary of the late Tamil leader Kalaignar.
It aligns with Tamil Nadu’s broader policy of supporting Tamil scholars and ensuring that their contributions are honoured. The three-category structure helps distinguish different forms of Tamil scholarship: preservation, research and creative expansion.
Implications for competitive exams
For aspirants, this award is a key fact under Tamil Nadu state policy and literature awards. Questions may probe its institution year, categories, prize components and the 2025 winners. Understanding that one-time awards with Rs 5 lakh, gold medal and citation, and three distinct categories are involved strengthens recall.
This also reflects Tamil Nadu’s cultural promotion strategy under the government, which is relevant for state policy sections in exams.
Outlook and importance
Given the annual nature, every year the Tamil Development Department is expected to select three scholars across those categories. The award spotlights the importance the state places on Tamil language mastery and literary contributions. For exam-readiness, remember that the award combines monetary reward, medal and citation and was instituted in 2021.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Ilakkiya Maamani Award 2025:
| Topic | Detail |
| Award name | Ilakkiya Maamani Award |
| Institution year | 2021 |
| Presenting body | Tamil Development Department, Tamil Nadu |
| Award components | Rs 5 lakh + gold medal + citation |
| Categories | Traditional Tamil · Research Tamil · Creative Tamil |
| 2025 awardees | T. Gnanasundaram · R. Kamarasu · K. Somasundaram “Kalapriya” |
| Presenting authority | Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (M.K. Stalin) |
| Purpose | Honour leading Tamil scholars and promote Tamil language |
