Mumbai, August 4, 2026: The Crossword Book Awards has announced its jury panel for the 20th edition, bringing together leading figures from Indian literature, journalism, academia, publishing and the arts. The 2026 awards will recognise works across fiction, non-fiction, business and management, children’s literature, and translation, with longlists, shortlists, and winners to be revealed later this year.
Since its inception in 1998, the Crossword Book Awards has honoured over 100 books in ten categories and presented five Lifetime Achievement Awards. The 2026 edition will continue this tradition, with winners to be selected in Jury, Popular Choice, and Lifetime Achievement categories.
Jury members for 2026 edition
The jury for fiction includes Anuja Chauhan, Manju Kapur, and Samit Basu. Non-fiction will be judged by Anirudh Kanisetti, Jyoti Malhotra, and Naresh Fernandes. The business and management category features Monika Halan, Rama Bijapurkar, and Shrayana Bhattacharya. Children’s literature will be evaluated by Fiona Fernandez, Payal Kapadia, and Ranjit Lal. The translation category jury comprises Meena Kandasamy, Ranjit Hoskote, and Srinath Perur.
Awards process and previous recipients
The awards will continue to include the Popular Choice Awards, determined by reader votes, and the Lifetime Achievement Award, which has previously gone to Shanta Gokhale, Amitav Ghosh, Sudha Murty, Shashi Tharoor, and Ruskin Bond. The 2025 winners included Ruchir Joshi, Manu S. Pillai, and Sudha Murty, with Shanta Gokhale receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Upcoming announcements and ceremony
Longlists and shortlists for the 2026 awards will be announced in the coming months, culminating in an awards ceremony at the end of the year where Jury Award winners, Popular Choice Award winners, and the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be honoured.
Organiser’s remarks
Nidhi Gupta, Director, Crossword Bookstores, said the 20th edition marks a significant milestone for the awards and highlighted the diversity and expertise of this year’s jury. Gupta added that the awards continue to celebrate Indian writing in English and remain committed to recognising authors who enrich India’s literary culture.
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