Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 18: The Andaman & Nicobar Administration has launched a series of awareness-cum-orientation workshops across the Islands to promote the ‘Gems of India Challenge 2026’, a national pilot meant to identify and support grassroots digital creators, officials said on Tuesday.
Purpose and scope of the local campaign
The workshops aim to encourage students, youth and emerging creators to document and showcase the unique stories, culture, heritage and tourism potential of the A&N Islands to a national audience, the administration said. A virtual session was held at Mahatma Gandhi Government College, Mayabunder in North & Middle Andaman district, where resource persons from the Tourism Department addressed students via video conference.
According to the administration, participants were urged to ‘document the heritage and become the “Gems” of the Islands’ by producing short digital works that highlight tribal culture, eco-tourism, local cuisine, traditional crafts and community achievements.
How the Islands fit into the national pilot
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India, has launched the pilot phase of the Gems of India Challenge to nurture and promote local digital creators as part of efforts to strengthen the creative sector. The A&N Islands are one of six States/Union Territories chosen for the pilot. The other participants are Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Goa, and Ladakh, the administration said.
Who can participate and what to submit
The Challenge invites creators from all three districts of the Islands — South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, and Nicobar — to submit original content in short digital formats. Key participation details shared by the administration are listed below.
- Submission window: 1 to 31 August 2026.
- Platform: Download the WAVES OTT app, register your mobile number and create a Creator Profile in the MyWAVES section.
- Format: Original videos, reels, podcasts, documentaries or other creative formats lasting 1 to 3 minutes.
- Suggested themes: District identity, heritage, tourism, traditions, history, community achievements, tribal culture, eco-tourism, cuisine and crafts.
Awards and recognition
The administration released limited details on prizes for the pilot. At the district level, the Challenge will award up to 20 prizes of ₹50,000 each per district. The source material mentions a State/UT level award to an exceptional creator from each district but does not specify the amount for that award.
| Level | Prizes (as reported) |
|---|---|
| District | Up to 20 awards of ₹50,000 each, per district |
| State/UT | One exceptional creator from each district to receive a State-level award (amount not specified in the report) |
Local outreach and next steps
The virtual workshop at Mahatma Gandhi Government College, Mayabunder formed part of the administration's outreach to educational institutions and young creators. Resource persons from the Tourism Department provided technical and thematic guidance during the session, the administration reported.
Officials said the series of workshops will continue across the Islands to ensure creators from remote areas, including Nicobar, are aware of the opportunity and able to participate. The administration emphasised documentation of local heritage and sustainable tourism themes that reflect the Islands’ identity as the “Emerald Isles”.
What applicants should note
- Ensure content is original and conforms to the 1–3 minute time limit.
- Register on the WAVES OTT app and complete the Creator Profile before submitting entries.
- Follow local guidelines regarding filming in protected or tribal areas; obtain permissions where necessary.
The administration did not provide further details on judging criteria, the total prize pool for State/UT awards or contact points for queries. Interested creators are advised to follow official announcements from the A&N Administration and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for full terms and conditions and any updates on the pilot scheme.
"The pilot phase is an attempt to identify, nurture and promote grassroots digital creators as part of the Government's efforts to strengthen India's creative sector," the administration said.
