[2] Awards for translations were instituted in 1989 at the instance of then-Prime Minister of India, P. V. Narasimha Rao.

[2] Consequently, the Board decided to dispense with its original requirement for additional expert committees to evaluate the translations, and also ruled that it was not obligated to grant prizes in languages where suitable books were not nominated.

[2] In 1995, the Akademi also held that joint translations would be eligible, and in 1997, it dispensed with the process of advertising for nominations and replaced it with invitations for recommendations from advisory boards and Committee members.

[1][4] Entries for the prizes are invited from individual translator or publishers through advertise in newspapers.

joint venture is also eligible however award amount equally divided between the translators.