Karnataka Sahitya Academy is an autonomous organization set up by the government of Karnataka to promote Kannada literature and recognize literary merit by giving awards. It is fully funded by the Directorate of Kannada and Culture, Government of Karnataka. Set up in 1961 as "Mysore State Sahitya Academy" it was renamed as Karnataka Sahitya Academy when the name of the Mysore State was changed to Karnataka in 1973. In 1977 the Government of Karnataka made amendments to its constitution and printed a Charter of the Academies. According to this Charter: (a) the President and Members of Sahitya Academy are nominated by the government (b) the Academy can form an executive committee to take care of its day-to-day affairs (c) it also has the authority to form sub-committees as and when required,