♦ Rambhadracharya (74) the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot, is a renowned Hindu spiritual leader, educator and writer of more than 240 books and texts, including four epics. Rambhadracharya is one of the present four Jagadguru Ramanandacharyas of the Ramananda sect and has been holding this position since 1982. He received the Padma Vibhushan award in 2015. His original name was Giridhara Misra.

♦ Jnanpith Award was established in 1944, is given annually for outstanding contributions to Indian literature and is considered the highest literary honour in the country. This is the second time the award is being given for Sanskrit language and for the fifth time for Urdu language. The award carries a prize money of Rs 21 lakh, a statue of Vagdevi and a citation.