WASHINGTON DC (TIP): India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development has invited recommendations and nominations for the “Presidential Award of Certificates of Honor” to distinguished scholars of four Indian languages: Sanskrit, Oriya, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam.

Indian Americans and people of “non-Indian origin” are also eligible for the award, a circular issued by the ministry said.

They will be eligible under the “International Award of Certificate of Honor” category. There will be two awards for scholars who have made “outstanding contributions” in the field of Sanskrit and two “(one each for person of Indian and Non-Indian Origin) in each of the languages of Classical Oriya, Classical Kannada, Classical Telugu and Classical Malayalam,” the circular said.

The awards will be presented by the President of India and the selected scholars will get a Certificate of Honor and a one-time grant of 500,000 rupees ($7,700).

A press release from the Embassy of India in Washington, DC, scholars in each of these language, “who have teaching experience, published works- number of books / articles published, research work and have kept the traditional Sanskrit, Classical Oriya, Classical Kannada, Classical Telugu and Classical Malayalam studies alive,” should submit the nominations by March 25 to the Embassy of India by email or postal mail.

Minimum age for the awards is 60 years.

The application form is available on the official website.

The ID for sending the email is pic1.washington@mea.gov.in.

The postal mail should be addressed to “Attaché (PIC), Embassy of India, 2107 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008.”

The embassy said the applications will be sent to ministry for decision.