Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 11: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is organising a series of Awareness-cum-Orientation Workshops on the ‘Gems of India Challenge 2026’ across the Islands to encourage students, youth and emerging digital creators to participate in the national initiative and showcase the unique stories, culture, heritage and tourism potential of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The ‘Gems of India Challenge’, launched by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, is a national initiative aimed at identifying, nurturing and promoting grassroots digital creators from across the country. The Challenge encourages creators to present the culture, heritage, tourism, traditions, history and distinctive achievements of their districts through authentic digital storytelling. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is among the six States/UTs selected for the Pilot Phase.
Under the Challenge, participants are required to create and submit original digital content of 1 to 3 minutes duration through the MyWAVES section of the WAVES OTT platform. The submission window for the Pilot Phase is open from August 1 to August 31, 2026.
The Challenge provides an attractive award and recognition structure. At the District Level, up to 20 awards of Rs.50,000 each per district will be given. At the State/UT Level, one exceptional creator from each district will be eligible for a Rs.2 lakh award, while selected entries at the National Level will compete for National Awards of Rs.5 lakh each.
Awareness-cum-Orientation Workshops
The workshops are being organised in collaboration with the Department of Education, Information Technology Department, Prasar Bharati, My Bharat and District Administrations, with the objective of providing practical guidance to prospective participants.
The one-hour sessions will cover an introduction to the Gems of India Challenge, awareness about the initiative, a presentation on registration through MyWAVES, interaction with students and a demonstration of the online registration and content submission process.
The schedule of the workshops is as follows:
Introduction and Awareness about the Gems of India Challenge, registration on MyWAVES through PPT.
Interaction with students.
Demonstration of online registration and submission process.
1) JNRM, Sri Vijaya Puram – 12.08.2026: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
2) ANCOL, Sri Vijaya Puram – 12.08.2026: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
3) Andaman Law College, Sri Vijaya Puram – 12.08.2026: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
4) ANIIMS, Sri Vijaya Puram – 13.08.2026: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
5) TGCE, Sri Vijaya Puram – 13.08.2026: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
6) Teachers’ Training Institute – 14.08.2026: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
7) DBRAIT, Dollygunj – 14.08.2026: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
8) ITI, Sri Vijaya Puram – 14.08.2026: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
9) Panchayat Hall, Rangat – 17.08.2026: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
10) Mayabunder College – 18.08.2026: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
11) Multipurpose Hall, Mayabunder – 19.08.2026: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
The Administration has called upon students, youth, aspiring filmmakers, vloggers, photographers, storytellers and other creative minds of the Islands to actively participate in the Challenge and use the opportunity to bring the unique identity of the Islands to a national audience.
Creators can participate through the MyWAVES section of the WAVES OTT platform and submit their original content within the stipulated period ending August 31, 2026.
The Directorate of Information, Publicity & Tourism (IP&T), in coordination with the District Administrations and partner departments, is facilitating wider awareness and participation in the Islands. Interested participants are encouraged to attend the orientation sessions and make use of the guidance provided for registration and online submission.
The Administration has urged the youth of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to step forward, tell their stories and showcase the ‘Gems’ of the Islands to the nation.