India Currents achieved a remarkable feat at the 2026 California Journalism Awards, securing 17 top honors across 18 categories, setting a new record for the publication.
India Currents showcased its exceptional journalistic prowess at the 2026 California Journalism Awards (CJA), earning a record 17 top honors across 18 categories. This achievement marks a significant increase from the previous year, where the publication garnered accolades in 11 categories.
The CJA winners were announced on June 22, with 16 journalists from India Currents recognized for their outstanding contributions, underscoring the newsroom’s impact and commitment to quality journalism.
Presented by the California News Publishers Association (CNPA), the California Journalism Awards celebrate excellence in journalism throughout the state. The awards honor achievements in reporting, design, photography, and multimedia storytelling, highlighting the vital role of news organizations in informing and engaging communities across California.
In a statement released on June 4, the CNPA noted that this year’s finalists “represent some of the strongest work produced in newsrooms across the state this past year. From watchdog reporting to compelling storytelling, these entries highlight the depth, creativity, and impact of California journalism at its best.”
Among the accolades received by India Currents was the General Excellence Award in its division, which recognizes publications that achieve top honors across multiple award categories. Additionally, the editorial team was awarded the Public Service Journalism award for their compelling coverage of immigration issues, which was described as “vital community coverage.”
The impressive haul included five first-place finishes, two second-place awards, four third-place awards, six fourth-place placements, and one fifth-place finish.
Congratulations are in order for all honorees!
The following are some of the notable awards received by India Currents:
General Excellence – 1st Place: India Currents
Columns – 1st Place: Anjana Nagarajan-Butaney for “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Truth About Desi Health”; “Bay Area High Schoolers Struggle A Lot,” Say South Asian Students About The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis; “Beyond The Hot Flash! What Every Woman Should Know About Menopause & Hormone Therapy.”
Tourism/Travel Writing – 1st Place: Pravallika Soubandi for “Journeys Through India: Roots, Rituals, and Reinvention”; Deepanwita Gita Niyogi for “A Day In Shimla, Chasing The Phantom Rickshaw.”
Immigration Reporting – 1st Place: Alakananda Mookerji for “Immigration Crackdowns & Consequences”; Meera Kymal for “Who Gets Deported In The United States & Why.”
Religion and Faith Writing – 1st Place: Jyoti Nadhani for “Between Mantra and Modern Life”; Sweta Vikram for “Modern Burnout, Ancient Solutions”; Vijay Rajvaidya for “My Padayatra: A Walk Of Life Tracing The Footsteps Of Adi Shankaracharya.”
Film & TV Writing – 2nd Place: Bulbul Mankani Dosanjh for “Little Jaffna: How Immigration & Memory Fuse In Modern Europe.”
Writing – 2nd Place: Vignesh Ramachandran for “When Authenticity Is Performative; Why Gatekeeping On ‘Cultural Authenticity’ Can Be Problematic.”
Arts and Entertainment – 3rd Place: Anushka Iyer for “Bharatnatyam Found Me & I Found My Rhythm Again.”
Artistic Photo – 3rd Place: Hari Adivarekar for “Creating the face of a Kathakali dancer for the Battery Dance Festival.”
Fine Arts Writing/Reporting – 3rd Place: Srishti Prabha for “Dancing With Defiance: ‘Mehfil’ Blends Queer Cabaret & South Asian Tradition.”
Public Service Journalism – 4th Place: “This Immigrant Life” by the India Currents Editorial Team.
Investigative Reporting – 4th Place: Tanay Gokhale for “Scars of Migration.”
Health Reporting – 4th Place: Snigdha Sen for “Caring Across Generations: Aging & Health in Desi Families.”
Avery Cruz also received recognition in Agricultural Reporting, while Prachi Singh was acknowledged for her feature photo work.
India Currents also had several finalists recognized in various categories, including Amruta Kosuru for Feature Story and Tanay Gokhale for In Depth Reporting.
This recognition at the California Journalism Awards not only highlights the talent within India Currents but also reinforces the publication’s commitment to serving its community through impactful journalism. The awards serve as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire editorial team.
According to India Currents, the accolades received this year reflect the publication’s ongoing mission to inform, engage, and uplift the voices of the South Asian community in California.