What is in news : Odia poet Rajendra Kishore Panda has been selected for the Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, the national award instituted in memory of the late poet laureate, for 2020.

Details :

• The award :
  • Carries a cash award of ₹5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation
  • Is instituted by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishthana, Kuppalli, the trust formed to popularise the writings of poet laureate Kuvempu and to propagate the principles advocated by him
  • Is presented at Kuppalli, the birthplace of Kuvempu in Shivamogga district, on December 29 to mark his birth anniversary
• NOTE: The name of Dr. Panda was finalised by a three-member committee comprising Kannada poet H.S. Shivaprakash; Agrahara Krishnamurthy, former secretary of Central Sahitya Academy; and Bengali author Shyamal Bhattacharya. The committee met under the chairmanship of Hampa Nagarajaiah.