Question

Jnanpith Award was instituted in 1961. The newspaper group behind the award is 
1. The Indian Express
2. The Times of India
3. Hindustan Times
4. The Hindu 

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : The Times of India

The correct answer is The Times of India.

• The Times of India is published by Bennet, Coleman & Co. Ltd. also known as The Times Group.
• It was established in the year 1838 as 'The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce' which later became 'The Times of India'. 
• Bhartiya Jnanpith, a cultural organisation has instituted the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 1961.
• It was founded by the former chairman of The Times Group, Late Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain, in 1944.
  • It also confers:
    • ​Moortidevi Award( instituted in 1982),
    • Jnangarima Manad Alankaran &
    • Navlekhan Award.

• Jnanpith Award: Highest literary award in India,
  • Instituted in 1961, the first award was given in 1965.
  • Given annually for best creative literary writing, to writers in any of 22 Indian languages recognised by the Constitution of India
    • Schedule- 8th, Article- 343 to 351 of Part- XVII.
  • Comprises of a citation, a bronze replica of Saraswati( Vagdevi), 11 lakh rupees cash.
  • Conferred only to Indian citizens, also no posthumous conferral,
  • Until 1982, it was given only for specific work, thereafter for writer's overall contribution in literature,
  • After the 49th Award in 2013, the English language literature was considered eligible,
  • 1st recipient: G. Sankar Kurup, Malayalam poet, for Odarkkuzhal, in 1965,
  • 1st woman recipient: Ashapoorna Devi, Bengali writer, in 1976,
  • 54th Award, 2018: Amitav Ghosh( 1st English language winner),
  • 55th Award, 2019: Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, Malayalam( died recently in 10/2020).