Port Blair (Sri Vijay Puram): Grassroots creators across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been given a chance to take their island stories to a national audience with the launch of the pilot phase of the Centre’s ‘Gems of India’ Challenge. Launched by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the initiative seeks to discover, nurture and promote digital creators from the grassroots and strengthen India’s growing creative economy.
The Islands are among six States/UTs selected for the pilot, alongside Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Goa and Ladakh. Creators from South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman and Nicobar can showcase the distinctive identity of the “Emerald Isles” through original videos, reels, podcasts and documentaries focusing on tribal culture, eco-tourism, cuisine, crafts, heritage, traditions, history and community achievements.
Entries are open till August 31, 2026.
Participants need to download the WAVES OTT app, register their mobile number and create a profile through the MyWAVES section. Entries should be 1–3 minutes long. The initiative carries substantial rewards, with up to 20 district-level awards of ₹50,000 each per district, while one creator from each district will receive a ₹2 lakh UT-level award. Selected entries will later compete for National Awards of ₹5 lakh each.
The Administration has urged young creators and creative minds across the three districts to seize the opportunity to document the Islands’ unique heritage, stories and achievements—and put the Andamans firmly on India’s creative map.
