April 14, 1981

The winners and their work, page B4. By PETER KIHSS The comic novel ''A Confederacy of Dunces,'' whose author, John Kennedy Toole, committed suicide 12 years ago after failing to find a publisher, won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for fiction yesterday. The drama prize was awarded to ''Crimes of the Heart,'' by Beth Henley, a play performed so far only at regional theaters and Off Broadway. In journalism, two prizes went to staff members of The New York Times - John M. Crewdson, for national reporting on immigration problems and illegal aliens, and Dave Anderson, sports columnist, for commentary.

The Voyage of Columbia Two astronauts cruised through a second day in space aboard the Columbia, enjoying the panoramas and putting the smooth-flying craft through critical tests in preparation for a planned landing early this afternoon in California's Mojave Desert. The wheeled landing is to follow 36 orbits in a journey of 54 1/2 hours. (Page A1, Column 6.) The loss of all or part of 17 tiles that protect the space shuttle from the extreme heat of re-entry into the earth's atmosphere was a subject of debate. Space officials said attempts to photograph the underside of the craft had failed, but they expressed confidence that all the critical tiles were firmly in place and posed no hazard. (C6:1-2.)

The Reagan Administration, buffeted by a surprising Congressional setback last week while the President was recuperating from a gunshot wound, is gearing up now to try to recapture its political momentum when Congress returns in two weeks. Congressional Republicans and White House officials admit that an unexpected defeat on the budget resolution in the Senate Budget Committee last week dealt them a blow, but they assert that the pressure of the legislative timetable will be on Congress to produce action on budget resolutions by May 1. To regain the offensive for that period, White House strategists have invited nearly 900 regional editors and broadcasters here for economic briefings, lined up an intensive speaking schedule for Vice President Bush, encouraged Cabinet members to redouble their public appearances and laid plans to lobby three Republican Senators who voted against the budget resolution last week. Hope for Personal Campaigning Republican leaders in Congress hope that President Reagan will be well enough in two weeks to do some personal politicking for his program with members of Congress, although his own staff is cautious about committing him to such activity until his doctors approve.

''The spaceship is just performing beautiful.'' - John W. Young. (A1:6.)

An official City Hall portrait of former Mayor Abraham D. Beame was unveiled yesterday in an atmosphere of affection, jokes and a few moments of deep emotion. Officials from Mr. Beame's administration, which he characterized as ''undoubtedly the roughest in the history of the city,'' gathered in the Board of Estimate room at City Hall like veterans of some particularly tough battle to reminisce and to praise the old commander. About 200 of Mr. Beame's friends and fellow campaigners were present.