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IGF Archer Amish Award for storytellers returns with $25,000 prize

The IGF Archer-Amish Award returns, honouring fiction that brings alive the India story

The award is jointly helmed and judged by bestselling authors Jeffrey Archer and Amish Tripathi.

After its debut earlier this year, the IGF Archer Amish Award for Storytellers is back for its second edition, reaffirming its place as one of the most prestigious recognitions in Indian literature.

The award, jointly helmed and judged by bestselling authors Jeffrey Archer and Amish Tripathi, honours works of fiction that bring alive the “India story,” narratives rooted in Indian culture, perspectives, and lived experience. The winner will receive a cash prize of $25,000 (Rs 22 lakh), placing the honour among the world’s most valuable literary prizes.

“Awards are very important because they give recognition, and they allow someone who has slaved night and day to achieve something to realise they’re not on their own stuck in a box,” said Archer, speaking about the prize.

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Tripathi added, “If you are an author steeped in Indian culture, nuance and depth, this is your chance to win $25,000. Not only is the IGF Archer-Amish Award among the biggest literary prizes in the world, it can also take a young author’s career to a whole new level and help them gain global recognition.”

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The prize was launched in June 2025, with Dr Shalini Mullick, a awriter and practicing doctor, becoming the inaugural winner. She received the award from Lisa Nandy, the UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, alongside Archer, Tripathi, and IGF Founder Manoj Ladwa.

What to know?

Dr. Shalini Mullick, receives the first-ever award from Lisa Nandy, UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, Jeffrey Archer, Amish Tripathi and Manoj Ladwa.

📌 Applications Now Open

📌 Submissions for the 2025–26 award cycle are open to novels that meet the following criteria:

📌 Minimum 20,000 words, forming a single continuous narrative.

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📌 Originally written and published in English (translations and adaptations are not eligible).

📌Published between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025, with a valid ISBN and recognised publisher.

📌Entries may be submitted by authors, publishers, or literary agents, provided they hold the rights. One submission is allowed per author, including co-authored works.

The winner will also feature in an exclusive interview with India Global Forum (IGF), connecting them with IGF’s influential network in India and internationally.

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“The written word, one of the oldest and most significant forms of creative expression, continues to play a crucial role in altering perceptions and inspiring change. At IGF, we are storytellers, and this award is an extension of that mission,” said Manoj Ladwa, IGF Founder.

With its blend of prestige, prize money, and platform, the IGF Archer Amish Award has already positioned itself as a landmark recognition for Indian fiction.

Applications are now open.