Prasar Bharati, Indi is supporting a new national initiative designed to identify, nurture and promote grassroots digital creators across India.

The pilot phase of the “Gems of India” Challenge opened for submissions on 1 August 2026 through MyWAVES, the citizen-creator platform available on Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT service.

Participants are invited to produce short videos highlighting the culture, heritage, tourism, traditions, history and distinctive achievements of their districts. The initiative aims to create a nationwide network of digital storytellers while celebrating the cultural diversity and unique identity of communities across India.

Creators can submit original videos lasting between one and three minutes. The pilot submission period will remain open until 31 August and initially covers the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, and Ladakh.

The project brings together Prasar Bharati, My Bharat, state and district administrations, and local cultural and educational institutions. YouTube and Meta are also supporting the initiative by engaging their respective creator communities and extending its digital reach.

Outstanding entries will receive recognition and financial awards at district and state levels. Following the pilot, the initiative is expected to expand to all Indian states and union territories.

Through the project, Prasar Bharati is using its digital platform to encourage community storytelling, support emerging creative talent and bring locally rooted stories to wider audiences.

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