Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 to be organised from Nov 28 to Dec 12, 2026, on the theme “Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen”

Union Minister for Education, Shri Pralhad Joshi, launches Registration Portal for KTS 5.0

Union Minister for Education, Shri Pralhad Joshi, today launched the registration portal for the fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 5.0) scheduled to be held from 28 November to 12 December 2026. The programme will celebrate, reaffirm and strengthen the age-old civilizational bonds between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, the two ancient seats of learning, strengthening the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

Speaking at the Launch, Shri Pralhad Joshi said that since ancient times, the country has had a strong cultural unity. He noted that many people visited Kashi and Rameswaram as part of their religious traditions, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural bonds between the northern and southern parts of India. He stated that the Programme would bring together students, teachers, writers, professionals, agriculturalists, artists, women and spiritual scholars. He also highlighted that educational outreach initiatives would be carried out in higher education institutions to familiarise students with the objectives of Kashi Tamil Sangamam. The Union Minister reiterated that Kashi Tamil Sangamam played an important role in strengthening national unity and celebrating India’s shared civilisational heritage.

The first Kashi Tamil Sangamam was held in 2022 and over the last four editions, it facilitated meaningful exchanges of knowledge, language, traditions and lived experiences between the two regions. The Event is organized by the Department of Higher Education, Union Ministry of Education, in collaboration with IIT Madras; Banaras Hindu University (BHU); Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai; Uttar Pradesh Government and Central Govt Departments/Ministries of Culture, Railways, School Education, Tourism, Textiles, Food Processing Industries, Information & Broadcasting, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, etc.

Theme for 2026: “Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen”

The theme of KTS 5.0 is “Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen”. The fifth edition seeks to bring the timeless ethical and moral wisdom of the classical Tamil text Thirukkural closer to the youth and learners across the country. Through educational engagement, multilingual resources and wider public outreach, the programme seeks to encourage reading, understanding and application of  universal values as enshrined in the text, in everyday life.

Participation and Itinerary

As part of the Programme, around 1,400 participants from Tamil Nadu, organized into seven groups of around 200 persons each, will undertake an eight-day journey comprising four days of travel and four days of visits and structured programmes. The itinerary will include Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya, featuring cultural, academic, domain-specific and spiritual engagements. The emphasis on youth participation will enable a new generation to engage meaningfully with India’s classical knowledge traditions and carry their values into contemporary academic, professional and social life.

Registration Details

Interested applicants may register through the official portal at https://kashitamil.iitm.ac.in/ hosted by IIT Madras with effect from October 22, 2026. The Portal will accept applications till November 13, 2026 under seven categories: (i) Students, (ii) Teachers, (iii) Writers and Media Professionals, (iv) Agriculture and Allied Sectors, (v) Professionals and Artisans, (vi) Women and (vii) Spiritual leaders.

Major Initiatives under KTS 5.0

• A nationwide Students’ Engagement Programme will be undertaken through 1,000 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country to promote wider understanding of the Thirukkural among students from diverse academic disciplines and linguistic backgrounds. The Initiative will include structured study, research and campus-based activities for wider dissemination of  the teachings and values of the Thirukkural. The details are available on the portal www.kts.cict.in of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Chennai.
• Thirukkural experts from Tamil Nadu will visit various schools and colleges in Varanasi and introduce the students to the core values of the Text through orientation modules, interactive sessions, quiz etc. The National Book Trust in association with the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya will conduct interactive sessions in schools in Varanasi on reading habits, story telling and creative activities
• KTS 5.0 will also leverage technology to make the teachings of the Thirukkural accessible to a wider audience across India.

The Ministry of Education invites eligible applicants from Tamil Nadu, especially youth and students, to register for Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 and participate in this celebration of India’s cultural oneness, linguistic diversity and shared civilisational inheritance.

Key Details at a Glance