Initiative Part of Broader Framework for the 2nd Edition of WAVES 2027: Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar
Sri Vijaya Puram, July 28: In a significant move to bolster the local “Concert Economy” and provide a global platform for the youth of the archipelago, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, officially launched the “Gems of India” Challenge today during the Senior Officers’ Meeting held in the Conference Hall of the Secretariat.
The ‘Gems of India’ Challenge is a prestigious national initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) in collaboration with Prasar Bharati. Its primary objective is to identify and encourage emerging digital creators from every district to showcase India’s unique culture, heritage, and tourism potential through authentic digital storytelling. Notably, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is one of only six States/UTs selected across the nation to participate in this exclusive pilot phase.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Secretary emphasized that the initiative is part of the broader framework for the second edition of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2027, scheduled to be held in Mumbai in February 2027. He urged the youth and digital creators of the Islands to participate in large numbers to document the “Gems” of the territory—ranging from indigenous traditions and rare art forms to breathtaking eco-tourism destinations.
Key Details of the Challenge:
Who can participate: Citizens, particularly youth and emerging digital content creators.
Content Themes: Culture and heritage, local cuisine, folk traditions, performing arts, nature/eco-tourism, and inspirational local stories.
Format: Short videos, reels, and vlogs with a suggested duration of 1 to 3 minutes.
How to Enter: Participants can access the challenge directly via https://www.wavespb.com/mwlink/CN31Vwv or upload their original content through the MyWAVES section of the WAVES OTT platform.
Submission Timeline: The pilot submission window for entries is scheduled to be open from 1st August to 31st August 2026.
Recognition and Awards: The challenge offers a robust incentive structure to reward high-quality content:
•District Level: Up to 20 awards of Rs. 50,000 each per district.
•State/UT Level: Best entries from the districts are eligible for an award of Rs. 2,00,000.
•National Level: Top performers can win awards of up to Rs. 5,00,000.
To support local participants, the Administration will coordinate with the Nodal Tech Partner (Vensysco Technologies) to provide online training and demonstration sessions on registration and content uploading.
The Directorate of IP&T will be working closely with the District Administrations and My Bharat volunteers to ensure that every creative voice in the Islands has the opportunity to tell their story on a national stage. For more information, creators are encouraged to visit the official MyWAVES platform link provided above or contact the Directorate of IP&T.