Archive · 16 Sep 2026
The Statesman to Honour Rural and Environmental Journalism
The Statesman is organizing an awards ceremony for journalists.
It will take place on September 16 in Kolkata.
The event will recognize reporting about villages and environmental problems.
Journalists could submit work published in 2025.
Reports could be written in English or an Indian regional language.
Judges will consider accuracy, research, social importance and writing quality.
The rural reporting awards have three cash prizes.
A separate environmental reporting award will also be given.
The Statesman will hold its annual rural and environmental journalism awards on September 16 at Kolkata’s Kala Mandir.
West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul is scheduled to be the chief guest.
The rural reporting awards recognize developmental and investigative reports on rural India published in 2025.
Rural reporting winners will receive cash prizes of Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000.
The CR Irani Foundation’s Environmental Reporting Award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000.
- Who
- The Statesman, the CR Irani Foundation, participating journalists and the judging panel; Agnimitra Paul is scheduled to be chief guest.
- What
- An awards ceremony recognizing rural and environmental journalism.
- When
- September 16; the articles submitted for consideration were published in 2025, and the submission deadline was August 20, 2026.
- Where
- Kala Mandir in Kolkata, West Bengal; entries were sent to The Awards Committee at Statesman House, Kolkata.
- Why
- To recognize investigative and developmental reporting on rural communities and environmental issues and promote awareness of major social, political and economic concerns.
- Event venue
- Kala Mandir, Kolkata
- Chief guest
- Agnimitra Paul, West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister
- Rural reporting prizes
- Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000
- Environmental reporting prize
- Rs 25,000
- Eligible work
- Investigative or developmental reports on rural India or environmental issues published in 2025
- Submission deadline
- August 20, 2026
- Judging criteria
- Social relevance, factual accuracy, research depth, professional dedication and writing quality