Ministry I&B Launches Pilot Phase of 'Gems of India' Challenge to Spotlight Grassroots Digital Creators

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has launched the pilot phase of the ‘Gems of India’ Challenge to identify and promote grassroots digital creators. The challenge, built on the MyWAVES platform of WAVES OTT, invites creators to submit 1‑3 minute videos showcasing the culture, heritage, tourism and history of their districts. The pilot runs from 1 August to 31 August 2026 in six regions – Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Goa and Ladakh – with participation of Prasar Bharati, My Bharat and state/district administrations. YouTube and Meta are partnered to mobilise creator communities. Awards of up to ₹5 lakh are planned at district, state and national levels, and a nationwide rollout is envisaged after the pilot.