India Launches ‘Gems of India’ Challenge to Spotlight Local Creators
In a significant step towards fostering the creative landscape of the nation, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has officially introduced the Pilot Phase of the ‘Gems of India’ Challenge. This initiative aims to discover, nurture, and promote grassroots digital creators from every corner of India, further advocating the government’s vision of cultivating the much-anticipated Orange Economy.
Under the guidance of Prime Minister, India is leveraging technology as a tool for empowerment and inclusion. The ‘Digital India’ initiative is a testament to the government’s commitment to making technology accessible, facilitating unprecedented opportunities for innovation.
The ‘Gems of India’ Challenge builds upon the MyWAVES platform, designed to encourage citizen-generated content. Launched by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, MyWAVES invites citizens to create, upload, and share original materials, bolstering India’s digital creator ecosystem. This new challenge invites individuals to narrate the unique stories of their districts through genuine digital storytelling.
Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, emphasized the wealth of stories embedded in every district. “Every district of India has a story waiting to be told, and Gems of India gives our creators the platform to tell it. This is as much about celebrating our youth’s creativity as it is about honoring the extraordinary diversity of our districts,” he remarked.
The challenge aims to create a dynamic network of creators nationwide, encouraging them to highlight their districts’ culture, heritage, traditions, and distinct achievements through authentic storytelling, thereby honoring the unique identities that each district encapsulates.
How to Participate
Interested creators can participate by submitting videos ranging from 1 to 3 minutes via the MyWAVES section on the WAVES OTT platform. The submission phase will open on August 1, 2026, and will last until August 31, 2026.
Pilot Phase Overview
This Pilot Phase will take place in several regions including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Goa, and Ladakh. This phase represents a collaboration between Prasar Bharati, My Bharat, and local State and District Administrations, with cultural and educational institutions playing a crucial role in engaging creators and developing content.
The Ministry is also joining forces with prominent platforms like YouTube and Meta to mobilize creator communities and enhance the challenge’s visibility across broader networks.
Awards and Recognition
To honor exceptional talent, the initiative will offer various awards at District, State, and National levels:
- District Level: Up to 20 awards of ₹50,000 each will be available per district.
- State Level: One outstanding creator from each district will receive a State-level Award of ₹2 lakh.
- National Level: In the national rollout, selected state entries will be eligible for National Awards of ₹5 lakh each.
To ensure a fair evaluation process, District and State Jury Committees will be formed, featuring distinguished individuals from diverse fields such as culture, heritage, tourism, media, and academia.
Future Nationwide Expansion
After analyzing the insights gathered from the pilot phase, the Gems of India Challenge is expected to expand to encompass all States and Union Territories. The overarching goal is to create a vibrant, nationwide ecosystem of digital creators, each celebrating their district’s unique identity and heritage.
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