Literature Current Affairs – February 2026

 Literature Current Affairs – February 2026

Important literary events, literature festivals, awards, writers and language-related developments for APSC, UPSC, ADRE, SSC, Banking, Railway, CUET PG and UGC NET.

### 1\. Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival 2026

Assam • 18–21 February 2026

The third edition of the Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival was scheduled for 18–21 February 2026 at Dibrugarh University, Assam. It was organised in association with the Foundation for Culture, Arts and Literature (FOCAL). The festival aimed to bring together writers, scholars and literary voices to promote cultural dialogue and exchange.

Exam facts

* Venue: Dibrugarh University, Assam.

* Edition: Third.

* Organisers: Dibrugarh University and FOCAL.

* Importance: Literary exchange, cultural dialogue and the promotion of literature.

* Assam connection: A relevant event for Assam GK and state-level competitive examinations.

### 2\. Delhi University Literature Festival 2026

New Delhi • 12–14 February 2026

The University of Delhi hosted its first Delhi University Literature Festival from 12 to 14 February 2026 at its North Campus.

The theme was “Nation First: Unity in Diversity.” The festival brought together writers, scholars, artists and performers for panel discussions, poetry sessions, folk presentations and cultural activities. It highlighted India's multilingual literary traditions and cultural diversity.

Exam facts

* Organiser: University of Delhi.

* Edition: First.

* Theme: “Nation First: Unity in Diversity.”

* Main focus: Literature, cultural pluralism, poetry and intellectual dialogue.

### 3\. Delhi Literature Festival 2026

New Delhi • 6–8 February 2026

The Delhi Literature Festival was scheduled for 6–8 February 2026 at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) amphitheatre, Janpath, New Delhi. It provided a platform for discussions on books, authors and contemporary literary issues.

Do not confuse the Delhi Literature Festival with the Delhi University Literature Festival; they are separate events.

### 4\. Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026

The Banaras Literature Festival Book Awards recognised writers and translators across English, Hindi and Indian-language literature. The award winners included established authors as well as contributors to fiction, poetry, nonfiction and translation. The winners were announced in January, and the awards were associated with the festival held from 30 January to 1 February 2026.

### Important award winners

| Award category                                     | Winner         | Recognised work                                                |

| -------------------------------------------------- | -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |

| Bhartendu Harishchandra Lifetime Achievement Award | Namita Gokhale | Contribution to Indian literature                              |

| Ruskin Bond Award for Fiction                      | Shinie Antony  | Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith                            |

| Sarojini Naidu Award for Poetry                    | Abhay K        | The Hanuman Chalisa                                            |

| Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award for Non-Fiction     | Peggy Mohan    | Father Tongue, Motherland: The Birth of Language in South Asia |

| Rabindranath Tagore Award for Translation          | Arunava Sinha  | English translation of Limited / Unlimited by Sankar           |

| Premchand Award for Fiction (Hindi)                | Mamta Kalia    | Doorasth Dampatya                                              |

| Kabir Award for Poetry (Hindi)                     | Udayan Vajpeyi | Pagal Ganitagya Ki Kavitayein                                  |

| Rahul Sankrityayan Award for Non-Fiction (Hindi)   | J. Sushil      | Dukh Ki Duniya Bheetar Hai                                     |

| Kalidas Award for Indian Languages                 | Mahadev Toppo  | Contribution to Indian-language literature                     |

| Vivekanand Award for Youth                         | Parag Pawan    | Literary contribution                                          |

Source: The Indian Express and Scroll.in.

### 5\. Sahitya Akademi literary programmes in February 2026

The Sahitya Akademi, India's national academy of letters, organised literary discussions, readings, seminars and multilingual events during February 2026. These activities promoted Indian languages, literary translation and regional writing.

Some notable programmes included:

* Contemporary Assamese Poetry: A symposium held at Tezpur University on 2 February.

* Literature in Cinema: A symposium held at Lokanayak Omeo Kumar Das College, Dhekiajuli, on 3 February.

* Assamese Women Writers' Meet: A programme held in Tezpur on 19 February.

* Assamese Detective Literature: A symposium on the literary value and popularity of Assamese detective fiction, held at Dispur College on 20 February.

* Readings by Assamese Writers: A programme held in Guwahati on 24 February.

* Readings by Assamese Women Writers: A related programme held in Guwahati on 24 February.

These events are particularly useful for Assam-focused examinations because they highlight the state's literary institutions, contemporary writing and regional literary traditions.

### 6\. International Mother Language Day – 21 February 2026

International Mother Language Day is observed every year on 21 February. Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and first observed internationally in 2000, the day promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

The date commemorates the language movement in Bangladesh, where people struggled for recognition of Bengali as a state language in 1952.

The Sahitya Akademi organised multilingual poetry and literary programmes on this occasion, including a multilingual poets' meet in New Delhi.

Why it matters

* Promotes the preservation of endangered and regional languages.

* Encourages education in the mother tongue.

* Supports literary translation and multilingual cultural exchange.

* Is especially relevant to Assam, with its diverse Assamese, Bodo, Bengali, Karbi, Mising and other linguistic traditions.

### 7\. Important literary personalities and works for revision

| Writer or translator | Important work or contribution                                                                          |

| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| Namita Gokhale       | Novelist and literary festival organiser; recipient of the Banaras Lit Fest lifetime achievement honour |

| Shinie Antony        | Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith                                                                     |

| Abhay K              | The Hanuman Chalisa                                                                                     |

| Peggy Mohan          | Father Tongue, Motherland: The Birth of Language in South Asia                                          |

| Arunava Sinha        | Translator of Bengali literature into English                                                           |

| Mamta Kalia          | Hindi writer; Doorasth Dampatya                                                                         |

| Udayan Vajpeyi       | Hindi poet; Pagal Ganitagya Ki Kavitayein                                                               |

| Mahadev Toppo        | Kurukh poet and writer                                                                                  |

| Sankar               | Bengali author of Limited / Unlimited                                                                   |

### 8\. Quick revision: February 2026 literature

* Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival: 18–21 February 2026.

* Delhi University Literature Festival: 12–14 February 2026.

* Theme of Delhi University Literature Festival: “Nation First: Unity in Diversity.”

* Delhi Literature Festival: 6–8 February 2026.

* Namita Gokhale: Bhartendu Harishchandra Lifetime Achievement Award at the Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards.

* Shinie Antony: Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith.

* Peggy Mohan: Father Tongue, Motherland: The Birth of Language in South Asia.

* International Mother Language Day: 21 February.

* Sahitya Akademi: India's national academy of letters.

* Assam-related literary events: Programmes on contemporary Assamese poetry, Assamese women writers and Assamese detective literature.

### 9\. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)

1\. What was the theme of the first Delhi University Literature Festival in 2026?

A. Literature for Peace B. Nation First: Unity in Diversity C. One World, One Language D. India in the Digital Age

Answer: B. Nation First: Unity in Diversity.

2\. International Mother Language Day is observed on which date?

A. 10 February B. 14 February C. 21 February D. 28 February

Answer: C. 21 February.

3\. Which writer received the Bhartendu Harishchandra Lifetime Achievement Award at the Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026?

A. Peggy Mohan B. Namita Gokhale C. Shinie Antony D. Mamta Kalia

Answer: B. Namita Gokhale.

4\. Who wrote Father Tongue, Motherland: The Birth of Language in South Asia?

A. Namita Gokhale B. Abhay K C. Peggy Mohan D. Arunava Sinha

Answer: C. Peggy Mohan.

5\. Where was the third Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival scheduled?

A. Guwahati University B. Dibrugarh University C. Tezpur University D. Cotton University

Answer: B. Dibrugarh University.

6\. Which institution is India's national academy of letters?

A. Lalit Kala Akademi B. Sangeet Natak Akademi C. Sahitya Akademi D. National Book Trust

Answer: C. Sahitya Akademi.

7\. Who received the Ruskin Bond Award for Fiction at the Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026?

A. Shinie Antony B. Mamta Kalia C. Namita Gokhale D. Peggy Mohan

Answer: A. Shinie Antony.

### Official and reference sources

* Sahitya Akademi — official events archive: [Events archive]

* University of Delhi — [Delhi University Literature Festival]

* Delhi Literature Festival — [Official website]

* The Indian Express — [Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026]

* Scroll.in — [Banaras Lit Fest awards report]

* The Times of India — [Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival]