| Year | Author | Work |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | माखनलाल चतुर्वेदी | Him Tarangini (Poetry) |
| 1956 | Vasudevasaran Agrawal | Padmavat Sanjivani Vyakhya (Commentary) |
| 1957 | आचार्य नरेन्द्र देव | Bauddha Dharma Darshan (Philosophy) |
| 1958 | राहुल सांकृत्यायन | Madhya Asia Ka Itihas (History) |
| 1959 | रामधारी सिंह "दिनकर" | Sanskriti Ke Char Adhyaya (A Survey of Indian culture) |
| 1960 | सुमित्रानंदन पंत | Kala aur Burha Chand (Poetry) |
| 1961 | भगवतीचरण वर्मा | Bhoole Bisre Chitra (Novel) |
| 1962 | No Award <ref name=sahitya/> | |
| 1963 | Amrit Rai | Premchand: Kalam Ka Sipahi (Biography) |
| 1964 | अज्ञेय | Aangan Ke Par Dvar (Poetry) |
| 1965 | Nagendra | Rasa Siddhanta (Treatise on poetics) |
| 1966 | Jainendra Kumar | Muktibodh (Novelette) |
| 1967 | Amritlal Nagar | Amrit Aur Vish (Novel) |
| 1968 | हरिवंशराय बच्चन | Do Chattanen (Poetry) |
| 1969 | Shrilal Shukla | Rag Darbari (Novel) |
| 1970 | राम विलास शर्मा | Nirala Ki Sahitya Sadhana (Biography) |
| 1971 | Namwar Singh | Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman (Literary criticism) |
| 1972 | भवानीप्रसाद मिश्र | Buni Huyi Rassi (Poetry) |
| 1973 | Hazari Prasad Dwivedi | Alok Parva (Essays) |
| 1974 | शिवमंगल सिंह सुमन | Mitti Ki Baraat (Poetry) |
| 1975 | Bhisham Sahni | Tamas (Novel) |
| 1976 | Yashpal | Meri Teri Uski Baat (Novel) |
| 1977 | शमशेर बहादुर सिंह | Chuka Bhi Hun Nahin Main (Poetry) |
| 1978 | भारतभूषण अग्रवाल | Utna Vah Suraj Hai (Poetry) |
| 1979 | धूमिल | Kal Sunana Mujhe (Poetry) |
| 1980 | Krishna Sobti | Zindaginama - Zinda Rukh (Novel) |
| 1981 | Trilochan | Tap Ke Taye Hue Din (Novel) |
| 1982 | Harishankar Parsai | Viklang Shraddha Ka Daur (Satire) |
| 1983 | सर्वेश्वरदयाल सक्सेना | Khutiyon Par Tange Log (Poetry) |
| 1984 | रघुवीर सहाय | Log Bhool Gaye Hain (Poetry) |
| 1985 | Nirmal Verma | Kavve Aur Kala Pani (Short stories) |
| 1986 | केदारनाथ अग्रवाल | Apurva (Poetry) |
| 1987 | श्रीकांत वर्मा | Magadh (Poems) |
| 1988 | नरेश मेहता | Aranya (Poems) |
| 1989 | केदारनाथ सिंह | Akaal Mein Saras (Poetry) |
| 1990 | Shiv Prasad Singh | Neela Chand (Novel) |
| 1991 | Girija Kumar Mathur | Main Vaqt Ke Hun Samne (Poetry) |
| 1992 | Giriraj Kishore | Dhai Ghar (Novel) |
| 1993 | Vishnu Prabhakar | Ardhanarishwar (Novel) |
| 1994 | Ashok Vajpeyi | Kahin Nahin Wahin (Poetry) |
| 1995 | Kunwar Narain | Koi Doosra Nahin (Poetry) |
| 1996 | Surendra Verma | Mujhe Chand Chahiye (Novel) |
| 1997 | Leeladhar Jagoori | Anubhav Ke Aakash Mein Chand (Poetry) |
| 1998 | Arun Kamal | Naye Ilake Mein (Poetry) |
| 1999 | Vinod Kumar Shukla | Deewar Main Ek Khirkee Rahathi Thi (Novel) |
| 2000 | Manglesh Dabral | Hum Jo Dekhte Hain (Poetry) |
| 2001 | Alka Saraogi | Via Bypass (Novel) |
| 2002 | Rajesh Joshi | Do Panktiyon Ke Beech (Poems) |
| 2003 | Kamleshwar | Kitne Pakistan (Novel) |
| 2004 | Viren Dangwal | Dushchakra Mein Srista (Poetry) |
| 2005 | Manohar Shyam Joshi | Kyap (Novel) |
| 2006 | Gyanendrapati | Sanshyatma (Poetry) |
| 2007 | Amar Kant | Inhin Hathiyaron Se (Novel) |