essay competition india

Celebrating Five Years of Inspiring Young Voices

The 2024 Youth Essay Competition is underway! Deadline July 1, 2024. Submit your essay here .

In the spring of 2020, the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) introduced the Youth Essay Competition as a catalyst to foster philanthropic thinking and action among youth. As we embark on its fifth year, the competition stands as a testament to the fusion of youthful dedication and philanthropic leadership, uniting bright young minds with organizations at the forefront of development and poverty alleviation in India. In their essays, students select the issue they believe to be most important and define ways in which we can all be part of the solution. This year, we invite students to also delve into India’s untold narratives, to uncover and amplify the less visible yet critical issues affecting India.

Why participate in the essay competition?

Winners will present their award-winning ideas at a national gathering of business leaders, philanthropists, and nonprofit executives at a high-impact Philanthropy Summit in the fall of 2024 . The likely date and location are October 25 in Boston.

Put your research skills to to the test while learning about global issues.

Improve your writing and analytical skills that are essential as you head to college.

Have a positive impact by directing a grant to the charity of your choice.

Showcase your views to thousands of readers and leaders in the field of philanthropy.

Share personal stories that have impacted you and how those stories influence your thinking.

Earn community credit for a well researched essay.

ESSAY PROMPT

India is the world’s largest democracy. In recent years, it has undergone significant shifts and has progressed on several fronts.

While many of the unmet needs and challenges of India’s vulnerable communities have been brought into the mainstream in recent years, much still needs to be done to address hidden realities and achieve creative solutions to inadequate and inequitable access to food, shelter, healthcare, clean water, education, women’s empowerment, and a safe environment.

Each submitted essay should answer the following question: 

Which developmental issue in India do you feel is most pressing and why? What are the lesser-known challenges and impacts posed by this issue? How can American individuals and groups be a part of the solution? 

Participants are rewarded for essay originality, so be sure to think outside of the box!

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Essays will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the following criteria:

Topic relevance, originality, and clarity.

A compelling issue analysis supported by research, evidence, and/or personal connection.

Advocating tangible, specific, and creative solutions to promote awareness and address issues.

Suggesting ways that US residents can be part of the solution.

ELIGIBILITY

The essay competition is open to middle and high school students who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents. You do not need to be Indian American to participate in this competition.

SUBMISSION AND AWARD DETAILS

Timeline - Essay submissions are required by July 1, 2024 ; selection and announcement of winners, runners-up, and finalists, will be made in August. Winners will have the opportunity to present their ideas at a national gathering of nonprofit executives, business leaders, and philanthropists in late October. Flight and hotel expenses will be covered for the winners.

Competition categories - The competition is judged in two separate categories, determined by the student’s grade level as of spring 2024. Middle school students are invited to respond to the prompt in 600 words or fewer. High school students are invited to respond to the prompt in 900 words or fewer.

Essays can be submitted through IPA’s online form here.

Submissions will be numbered (names removed) and converted to a single type style and size before going to the judges. Do not include any design elements or photos as they will be removed.

Competition winners, runners-up, and finalists will be asked to submit written permission to have their name, grade level, city and state, essay, and image shared on print, digital, and social media. We will also require permission from parent/s or legal guardian/s.

For any questions or difficulty in accessing the online form, please reach out by email to [email protected] . 

Winners will be able to direct a grant of $1000 to the charity of their choice. Runners-up will be able to direct a grant of $500 to the charity of their choice.  

Essays of the winners, runners-up, and finalists are published and widely promoted by IPA.

All researched and carefully crafted essays will receive a community credit award. 

SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY THROUGH ONLINE FORM HERE .

Click here to view the essays of winners and finalists in the 2023 competition. Click here to view the essays of winners and finalists in the 2022 competition. Click here to view the essays of winners and finalists in the 2021 competition. Click here to view the essays of winners and finalists in the 2020 competition.

Our heartfelt thanks

The IPA is tremendously grateful to the competition’s lead sponsor, Sarva Mangal Family Trust , supported by the Shah Family of Orange County and their company, MS International, Inc. We are also grateful to the Iowa-based Sehgal Foundation , which has been a sponsor since 2022 and helped the competition grow in its reach and impact. We are also grateful to Indiaspora for providing the winners a terrific platform to share their ideas.

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All India Essay Writing Competition

Essay competition 2022-23.

First Prize: Roshan Xalxo, Jnana Deepa, Pune

Second Prize: Shreya Roy, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata

Third Prize: Anshika Tripathi, Naresh Vihar Colony, Lucknow

Consolation Prizes

• Kasu Eliyas Reddy
• Sabin Abraham
• Andrew Jose
• Neelesh Kumar Mishra
• Megha Kumari Sah
• Advit Mittal
• Savio Saldanha
• Richard B Vadakkan

Congratulations to all the winners!

All india essay/ poster competition 2023-2024, announcing new competition.

Topics : Scams, Scandals, Ethics and Integrity

General Topic: Ethics, Business and Society

How do scams and scandals in our society reflect the need for ethics and integrity? How do scams and scandals affect the common people? What can we do about them? What are the ethical and moral demands on our soicety, given the increasing cases of scandals, scams and corruption?

The larger framework of this competition is to explore the significance of ethics in the society at large and in the business world in particular. So, you are requested to choose one specific topic which you are convinced of and argue for it. Do not remain at the general or descriptive level. Choose one particular area, find arguments for and against and come to a reasoned and deliberate opinion. More details can be found at www.kuru.in/topics

• Role of ethics in character building
• Ethics is purely subjective!
• There cannot be an objective ethics.
• Ethics creates identity
• Topics of your own choice (related to ethics and society)
• For more topics see the website ( https://kuru.in/topics )

An online workshop, which will be helpful for the final essay, will be conducted for those who register before Dec 10, 2023. In order to register, send an email with your full name, bio details, educational background and contact address to [email protected] . Registration Form ]. -->

Instructions

• You are welcome to add references, to make your arguments more consistent, cohesive and persuasive. Keep the footnotes to minimum.
• Avoid plagiarism by all means.
• Use APA style with in-text citations. For details and model essays, please see https://kuru.in/topics
• In the essay, please try to be focused and specific. Argue persuasively for your point, bringing out logically consistently reasons or premises. You may quote business leaders, ethicists or thinkers.
• The decision of the organizing committee is final.

For APA style https://bit.ly/3zEnOBd For more on themes and topics visit the page: https://kuru.in/topics

Important Dates

Last date for submission of the essay: July 20, 2024

No of words (including bibliography and footnotes): 2,500-3,500

Last Date for submitting draft December 25, 2023 for feedback and comments.

Two online workshops will be conducted. Dates will be announced later in this page.

Announcement of the Prices: July 31, 2024

Selected Essays will be published with DOI and ISSN or ISBN.

Prize Money: ₹ 65,000

Prize Money: First Prize: ₹ 20,000 Second Prize: ₹ 15,000 Third Prize: ₹ 10,000

Ten consolation prizes of ₹ 2,000 each

Participation certificates will be given to deserving participants.

Organized by JRD Tata Foundation for Business Ethics - XLRI, Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur

Email: [email protected]

WHERE WORDS MEET MAGIC​​

Unleash your writing skills and let your words make an impact.​, call for entries, submissions are open, why choose iwp, cash rewards.

GRAND WINNER

• Publication in National Media
• Feature on IWP's Website
• Feature on Social Media Handles
• Winner Certificate

1st RUNNERS UP

2nd RUNNERS UP

• For verses that resonate and linger.

BEST FICTION

• Celebrating imaginative worlds and compelling narratives.

BEST NON-FICTION​

• Honoring truth, well-told.

BEST ARTICLE/ESSAY

• For thought-provoking insights and perspectives.

BEST PERSONAL EXPRESSION

• Recognizing the power of introspection and personal storytelling.

10 EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARDS

• These awards will spotlight submissions that stand out for their unique voice and creative approach.
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What's in it for you?

Hone Your Craft

IWP provides an ideal environment for you to refine your writing skills. By offering feedback from esteemed judges, writing prompts, and exposure to diverse writing styles, we'll guide you on your path to becoming a better wordsmith.

Spotlight on Talent

This is your stage! IWP's creative writing quest is a golden opportunity to showcase your creativity to an extensive audience, elevating your work from your desk to the limelight. Who knows? Literary agents or publishers could be your next fans!

Prize-Winning Words

Here at the India Writing Project, we honor your talent with an array of rewards including enticing cash prizes, invaluable feedback, and publishing opportunities. It’s not just a competition; it's an investment in your literary journey.

Craft Your Portfolio

This isn't a fleeting event; it's a stepping stone towards building an impressive portfolio. It's a chance to create new literary masterpieces and gather the confidence to seize other writing opportunities that come your way.

Forge Literary Bonds

Connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for the written word. Engage in thoughtful exchanges, gather inspiration, and create a nurturing writer's community that fuels your creativity.

Dare to Excel

IWP is more than a competition; it's a personal challenge. Dare to stretch your creative muscles, delve into unknown genres, and pit your skills against other gifted writers. This quest will nurture your distinctive voice and style, aiding your growth in the literary world.

What our participants say

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Maybe this will help.

The writer can submit essays, poems, articles, or short stories written on ANY topic or subject as preferred by them. There is no restriction on the same. Submissions can be written in any style and from any genre as preferred by the writer

It is a limited-slot program, and registrations will close once the slots have been filled. Thereby, there will be no last date to register.

The  last day to submit is August 15, 2024 ; the results will be announced on September 15, 2024.

There is no age restriction to entering the competition. Talent doesn’t distinguish between ages, so why should we?

If you’d like to submit more than the prescribed piece limit, you would be required to register again. You cannot submit multiple pieces within the same entry or submit more than one entry/two entries (chosen while registering) with the same registration number.

You can register under the same name multiple times.

However, the contest has limited slots that will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• First Entry: The fee for registering your initial submission is Rs. 999.
• Subsequent Entries: Once your first entry is approved, any additional submissions can be made at a cost of Rs. 699 per entry.

Have Doubts? Get In Touch

• +91 - 7669991724
• [email protected]

We are one of India’s leading platforms for online poetry and creative writing programmes. We award you cash prizes, certificates, and magazine publications.

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G20 Essay Competition

Selection criteria, points to remember, gratification, terms & conditions.

• To invite students to share their ideas and visions for India’s G20 Presidency
• To create awareness and enhance knowledge about India’s G20 Presidency
• To increase understanding about India’s G20 Presidency
• To encourage young Indians to relate to different parameters of G20.
• Originality of thought and depth of knowledge
• Quality of Content, Relevance to the topic.
• Structure, articulation and writing style
• The competition is open to only Indian Citizens.
• The Essay can be submitted in either Hindi or English languages in the following categories/ age groups:
• The length of the Essay must not exceed 1500 words.
• The Essay must be typed in an A-4 size MS word document using Arial font for English and Mangal font for Hindi, having size 12 with 1.5” spacing and should be submitted in the form of PDF.
• The participants must be the same person who has written the essay. The Essay should reflect original thinking and presentation.
• The Competition is open to only Indian Citizens.
• Category: 12 - 14 years of age
• Category: 14 -16 years of age
• All entries must be submitted through the MyGov.in portal only. Entries submitted through any other medium/mode will not be considered for evaluation.
• A participant can submit only once. In case it is found that any participant has submitted more than one entry, all his/her entries will be considered as invalid.
• The entry should be original. Copied entries or plagiarized entries will not be considered under the contest. Winning entries will also be suitably publicized by the G20 Secretariat/ Ministry of External Affairs.
• There are no charges/registration fee for participation in the competition.
• The Essay must be typed in an A-4 size MS word document using Arial font for English and Mangal font for Hindi, having size 12 with 1.5” spacing. The essay must be uploaded in the PDF format.
•  Please note that the Essay must be original and should not violate any provision of the Indian Copyright Act 1957. Anyone found infringing on others’ copyright would be disqualified from the competition. G20 Secretariat/Ministry of External Affairs does not bear any responsibility for copyright violations or infringements of intellectual property carried out by the participants.
•  Mention of the Author’s name /email etc., anywhere in the body of the essay will lead to disqualification.
•  G20 Secretariat/Ministry of External Affairs reserves the right to verify original documents such as proof of age etc., before awarding the prizes.
•  Participant is to make sure that their MyGov profile is accurate and updated since G20 Secretariat/Ministry of External Affairs would be using this for further communication. This includes details such as name, photo, complete postal address, email ID and phone number. Entries with incomplete profiles would not be considered.
•  The G20 Secretariat/Ministry of External Affairs reserve all the rights and any dispute, amendments or any issue related to this competition / guidelines / evaluation criteria etc., shall be decided by the G20 Secretariat/ Ministry of External Affairs which will be final and binding.
•  G20 Secretariat/Ministry of External Affairs reserves the right to cancel or amend all or any part of the competition/guidelines/evaluation criteria etc., at any time. 
•  Any changes to the Terms and Conditions/ Technical Parameters/ Evaluation Criteria, or cancellation of the Contest, will be updated / posted on the MyGov platform. It would be the responsibility of the participants to keep themselves informed of any changes in the Term & Conditions/ Technical Parameters/ Evaluation Criteria stated for this Contest.
•  If any entry is found to violate the guidelines, it will be removed from the evaluation process without giving any intimation or explanation to the participant.
•  For Verification purposes original documents may be asked by G20 Secretariat/ MEA at any given point of time during the Competition process.
•  G20 Secretariat/Ministry of External Affairs shall have an exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual and irrevocable license to copy, store, edit, distribute, transmit and publish competition entries.
•  Decision of the Evaluation Committee will be final and binding on all participants.
•  Non- conformity to guidelines will lead to disqualification of the participants.

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Be known for shaping the leaders of tomorrow

Tata Building India School Essay Competition is India’s most prestigious essay competition held every year across schools from over 400+ cities across the country.

It is one of the key initiatives undertaken by Tata Group with the objective of motivating the youth and fostering the spirit of nation building. Through this essay writing competition, Tata Group wishes to encourage today’s young minds to become thoughtful leaders of tomorrow.

Each year, school students are given this unique opportunity to showcase their writing skills and get recognized at 3 levels – the school level, the city level and the national level. To ensure a level-playing field, the competition is divided into two categories, viz. Junior Category for students of classes 6th - 8th, and Senior Category for students of classes 9th - 12th.

Drive student engagement and holistic learning

A national competition like the Tata Building India School Essay Competition is a great way to foster holistic learning that is both fun and rewarding for your students. With an essay topic around nation building, students are encouraged to research, explore and think on a vast variety of subjects that make them more socially and intellectually aware.

Help your students develop critical skills

Essays are a great way to build independent thoughts and opinions. Structuring one’s thoughts within word limits helps students frame subtle connections concisely that help articulate ideas and concepts clearly. This not only helps students write better at their

academic exams but also communicate more effectively.

National level recognition

Ultimately, a school’s achievement lies in the success of its students. Tata Building India School Essay Competition is unique in its structure of providing participating school students an opportunity to win at 3 different levels (although the essay is written only once). Winning essays at the school-level are further evaluated at the city-level and ultimately at the national-level. There are prizes and recognition given to winning students and their schools at all the 3 levels. The crowning moment for the national-level winners is the intended visit to New Delhi and a face-to-face meeting with a national dignitary.

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Tata Building India

About tata building india.

• Theme for the year 2021-2022
• Digital Process for 2021-2022
• Essay competition modules
• Event timelines

Have a query?

School Essay Competition

Participate in

India's largest school essay competition.

Opportunity to win

Exciting prizes * at 3 levels.

* Conditions apply

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Welcome dear student

Tata building india 2020-21 school level activities window is now closed, details regarding prizes will be communicated over email --> are you an educator.

The Tata Building India School Essay Competition is one of the key initiatives undertaken by the Tata group of companies to motivate the youth of India towards thinking about nation building. The essay competition provides a unique platform to encourage young leaders of tomorrow to showcase their expressions in writing.

Each year, students are presented with the opportunity to compete and win by writing an essay on a specific theme, related to nation building.

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• Improved online

October - December 2020

Theme for the year 2021-22

Online education.

download brochure

Tata building india improved online process 2021-22.

The Improved Online Process is explained through the clickable schematic depicted below. Click on each box for details.

• Improved Online Process
• Physical Process

School registers successfully

TCS iON representative connects with school coordinator

School coordinator to inform students

Students write and submit essay

Essay submission.

School level judging by school nominated teachers

School level winners

School level winners verification and announcement

City level judging

City level winners announcement

National level judging

National level winners announcement

School nominates a coordinator. The coordinator registers using the "REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL" button on https://iur.ls/TataBuildingIndia

On successful registration, an email is sent to the school's registered email ID, along with:

• 1. Link to school login
• 2. School login ID and password
• 3. Instructions to proceed further

TCS iON representative connects with school coordinator to mutually decide the event conduct schedule and to explain the new improved online process.

Essay event schedule to be decided are as follows:

• 1. Date and time of event
• 2. Number of slots planned for conducting the event
• 3. Number of students appearing for the competition classwise from class VI to XII
• 4. Recommended online platform preferred by school for conducting online essay event

School coordinator must share the online session link with the students and the TCS iON representative for joining the online session, minimum 2 days prior to the decided date of online essay event.

Links to be shared as per schedule decided and confirmed with TCS iON representative.

School teachers, students and TCS iON representative to join the online session as per schedule.

• 1. Students will be shown 3 interesting Tata videos.
• 2. Based on videos, a quiz will be conducted.
• 3. Essay topic will be announced by TCS iON representative.
• 4. Students to proceed with writing the essay within the stipulated maximum time of 1 hour.
• 5. Students must submit their essays to the nominated school teacher(s) post the online essay event.

Duration of essay competition is 1 hour.

• 1. Student Name
• 2. School Name
• 5. Roll Number
• 6. Essay Topic

TCS iON representative will be a part of the entire online session.

After writing the essay students must scan and save the essay sheet in PDF format with the recommended filename and submit it to their respective teacher(s).

• 1. Students must ensure that the scan quality is legible.
• 2. Filename of the scanned essay sheet must be in format Class_Section_Roll No. e.g. 6_A_12345.

School level judges to evaluate the submitted essay sheets within 5 days of conducting the essay event.

• 1. Judging must be done based on certain criteria. Refer to the note section for the defined criteria.
• 2. The 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd place winners in both junior and senior categories must be decided based on the marks awarded by the judges.
• 3. School nominated judges must allot marks in such a way that there is no tie situation.

The school coordinator to share the judging guidelines with the respective nominated judges.

Only one winner each can be selected for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes* in each junior and senior category.

It is recommended to capture the marks for each essay sheet based on the judging criteria given below:

• 1. Relevance to Topic (Max. Marks: 10)
• 2. Language (Max. Marks: 10)
• 3. Structure (Max. Marks: 10)
• 4. Creativity (Max. Marks: 10)
• 5. Communication of Idea (Max. Marks: 10)
• 1. Teacher(s) to handover the evaluated essay sheets to the school coordinator, who will in turn consolidate all the essay sheets or folders into a single zipped file/folder.
• 2. The consolidated zipped file/folder must be uploaded to a shared drive for eg: Google Drive, Drop Box, etc.
• 3. School coordinator must login to https://iur.ls/TataBuildingIndia and click on the "School Login" button to share the shared drive link and the selected winners details.

Click on "School Login" button and enter the winner's details in Winners Shortlisting Form.

• 1. Shared link drive path (Link cannot be edited once shared)
• 2. Winner Category (Junior/Senior)
• 3. Winner Name
• 4. Winner Class
• 5. Winner Section
• 6. Winner Roll Number
• 7. Upload evaluated winners essay sheet
• 1. The Tata Building India Team will verify the uploaded essay sheets and intimate the school coordinator over email.
• 2. Post receiving the confirmation email, schools to internally announce the winners and distribute the prizes * (provided by the Tata group), to their students.

The 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd place winners in both junior and senior categories (as applicable) will be awarded exciting prizes * by the Tata group. Further details will be communicated subsequently.

Essays of the school level 1 st place winners, in the respective language, will move to city level judging.

These essays will be evaluated by judges drawn from independent academic and literary circles, for each language, from the respective city. Further details regarding announcement of winners and felicitation (where feasible) will be communicated subsequently.

City level winners will be announced by the Tata group.

The 1 st and 2 nd place winners at the city level, for the respective language, in both junior and senior categories will be awarded exciting prizes * by the Tata group. Further details regarding announcement of winners and felicitation (where feasible) will be communicated subsequently.

Essays of the city level 1 st place winners, in the respective language, will move to national level judging.

These essays will be evaluated by judges drawn from independent academic and literary circles, for the respective language at the national level.

National level winners will be announced by the Tata group.

The 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd place winners at the national level, in both junior and senior categories will be awarded exciting prizes * by the Tata group. Further details regarding winners announcement and felicitation (when/if feasible) will be communicated subsequently.

Scan and upload evaluated essay sheets

TCS iON representative connects with school coordinator to mutually decide the event conduct schedule and to explain the physical process.

• 2. Number of students participating in the competition, classwise from classes VI to XII
• 3. Essay writing event venue i.e. classroom, hall, etc.
• 4. Availability of AV equipment (projectors, speaker, screen, etc.)

School coordinator to inform interested students about the date and time of the event and the process for conducting the essay competition.

For more information on "Necessary instructions and guidelines" kindly refer to the email received at the time of registration.

School teachers, students and TCS iON representative to be present in the school campus.

• 4. Students to proceed with writing the essay within a class period or within a maximum time limit of 1 hour (as preferred by the school).
• 5. Students must submit their essays to the nominated school teacher(s) post writing the essay.

The following are mandatory information to be written by the student on the essay sheet:

TCS iON representative will be present for the entire duration of the competition.

The school coordinator to share the judging guidelines with the respective nominated judges. Only one winner each can be selected for the 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd prizes in each junior and senior category. It is recommended to capture the marks for each essay sheet based on the judging criteria given below: Criteria for Judging - Total marks to be awarded is out of 50.

TCS iON representative will:

• 1. Enable scanning of all the participant essay sheets (including winner essay sheets).
• 2. Enable consolidation of all the essay sheets or folders into a single zipped file and uploading the zipped file onto a shared drive.
• 3. Ensure school coordinator logs in to https://iur.ls/TataBuildingIndia and clicks on the "School Login" button to fill up the winner's details.
• 1. Consolidated essay link (Link to be shared by TCS iON representative)
• 7. Upload winner evaluated essay sheet

These essays will be evaluated by judges drawn from independent academic and literary circles, for each language, from the respective city.

School nominates a coordinator. He/She registers using the "Register noe" button on

On successfull registration, an email is sent to the school's registered email id, along with:

• 1. Link to edit application
• 2. User id and password
• 3. Instrucitons to proceed further
• 4. Template to capture student/participant info

School level event timelines

School registration begins from September 2021

Essay writing and submission

School level essay evaluation to end by February 2022

Please feel free to reach out to us

• Call us (India toll free)
• 1800 266 6282
• [email protected]

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• The essay should be written in the "preferred language" chosen by the school. Please get in touch with your schools' Tata Building India competition coordinator.
• All students belonging to a single school must write the essay in the same language selected by the school, at the time of school registration. The language selected must be the medium of instruction that the school follows.
• All students must necessarily participate through their respective schools only.
• If you would like your school to participate in this competition, kindly share the contact details of your school along with the details of the concerned school official. We will reach out to them to check if the school would be willing to participate. You can share this information with us by writing to us at [email protected]
• Only those school students who are currently in standards 6 th to 12 th are eligible to participate in this competition. If you have recently/already passed the 12 th standard, you will not be eligible to participate.
• Tata Building India is a school essay competition and therefore only schools are eligible to participate.
• Each student, for writing the essay, will be given a maximum time of 60 minutes or as decided by the school. Thereafter, if the event is being conducted via online medium, then the student has to share a legible scanned copy of the essay sheet in PDF format with his/her teacher. And if the event is conducted at the school premises, then the physical essay sheet has to be submitted with his/her respective teacher. To know more, please refer to "Tata Building India Improved Online/Physical Process for 2021-2022" section on this website.
• The essay topic will be revealed to students only after they have watched the prescribed videos and have attempted the quiz.
• Schools are advised to register at the earliest. Registrations will close on 28 th  February, 2022.
• The school level results will be declared through the respective schools once the evaluation is completed by the schools and verified by the Tata team.
• Please refer to 'Tata Building India Improved Online Process 2021-22' provided on https://iur.ls/TataBuildingIndia

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Tata building india 2020-21 participation window is now closed.

School Level evaluation of submitted essays will be closed by 11 th May 2021

• Student Login IDs can be generated only till 12 th April 2021
• Students can login and participate in the competition till 18 th April 2021
• School level evaluation of essays will be closed by 30 th April 2021

On successful registration, an email ID is sent to the school's registered email ID, along with:

• 4. Template to capture student/participant information

Please visit https://tatabuildingindia.com/ to know all the details about India’s most prestigious school essay competition.

If you are a school and wish to participate in the current academic year’s competition, please Register today!

Thank you for your interest and support. We look forward to your students participating and winning the Tata Building India School Essay Competition.

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• National essay writing Competition
• NATIONAL ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION

NATIONAL ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION ON “STUDENT DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NARENDRA MODI AS CHIEF MINISTER OF GUJARAT AND PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA” UPTO 15.02.2022

I am delighted to inform you that with a purpose to develop writing skills amongst students of all classes, National Citizens’ Committee has launched National Essay Writing Competition on “Student Development under the leadership of Narendra Modi as Chief Minister of Gujarat and Prime Minister of India”.

 In a signed message, the Vice-President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu wished the National Essay Writing Competition all success and appreciated this initiative of National Citizens Committee.

 We are inviting Indian students to participate in this online essay writing competition on the following Link:  https://bit.ly/nccessay by contributing Essay in 600 words in any language out of 14 Indian languages including Hindi, English, Urdu, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Manipuri, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil or Telugu on or before 15.02.2022. 

 There are 4 categories including (1)School students of up to 5 th  grade (2) School students from 6 th  grade to 8 th  grade (3) School students from 9 th  grade to 12 th  grade and (4) Graduate / Post-graduate College students.

We are expecting a very large number of students to participate in this online essay competition, and this event is likely to be recorded in the Jurists Book of World Records.

 There will be Prizes for the top entries (in each language and each category of1 st  Prize of Rs. 25,000/-, 2 nd  Prize of Rs. 20,000/- and 3 rd  Prize of Rs. 15,000/-. Hence there will be 56 participants who will get 1 st  Prize; 56 participants who will get 2 nd  Prize and 56 participants who will get 3 rd  Prize on merit basis in this Competition. 1 st  prize winners in each category will be considered for telecast of video recorded essay narrations on national television channels.

 We have also decided to select 3 participants from each of the 14 languages and each 4 categories by way of “Spin the Wheel” to give them individual surprise gifts as a token of appreciation. Therefore a total of 168 participants will get surprise gifts by way of “Spin the Wheel”.

 Every participant will be provided E-Certificate for contributing essays in the Competition.

The Principals of the institutions with participation of over 50 percent students will be felicitated.

15 Heads of Education Boards with high percentage of participation will also be honoured.

 I request you to forward to all educational institutions under your aegis for circulation of this information among all students or their parents about this Competition through Email / WhatsApp, enabling students to participate in this National Essay Writing Competition and submit their Essay on the Link :  https://bit.ly/nccessay  upto 15.02.2022.

 The letter of request addressed to head of the educational institution and Brochure by Dr. Adish C Aggarwala, Chairman, National Citizens’ Committee, meant for students are also attached for circulating amongst the students and teachers by the educational Institution.

 In case you are unable to circulate this information to educational institutions, then it is requested that we may kindly be provided list of all educational institutions with their contact details including their postal addresses, email addresses, phones and mobile numbers, enabling us to directly request the educational institutions to circulate this information amongst the students or their parents and teachers.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

(Bhubaneswar Kalita)

Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)

General Secretary, National Citizens’ Committee

• LT- EDUCATION  BOARD-GS
• CHAIRMAN NCC

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35th DAE All India Essay Contest

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National Online Essay Writing Competition

The office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is organising a National Online Essay Writing Competition to commemorate the occasion of Audit Diwas. Each year, ...

The office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is organising a National Online Essay Writing Competition to commemorate the occasion of Audit Diwas. Each year, 16th November is celebrated as Audit Diwas, as it was on this day in the year 1860 that Sir Edward Drummond took charge as the first Auditor General of India.

The essay competition aims to make the youth of the country aware of the institution of CAG of India and appreciate the contribution of the CAG in promoting public accountability and good governance. The competition will also give an opportunity for young minds to harness their creativity and expression of the ways in which the institution of the CAG can contribute to good governance.

Topics for the online essay competition for the year 2022 are as follows: A. The CAG: Helping India achieve Panchamrit - five nectar elements to deal with climate change B. The CAG: Realising the Constitution's vision, Enlivening Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav C: CAG@2047: Imagine you are the CAG of India in year 2047. What will be your strategy for the institution?

Participants can submit an essay on any one of the above topics.

The essays will be evaluated separately in English and Hindi.

Winners of the competition will be awarded cash prizes as follows: First prize: ₹30,000 Second prize: ₹20,000 Third prize: ₹15,000

There are no charges/registration for participation in the competition.

Eligibility: 1. The online essay writing competition is open to all persons who are currently enrolled in a course of study at any institution recognized by any University in India. 2. The participant should not be more than 25 years old as on 15.08.2022. 3. Employees of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department shall not be eligible for participating in the competition. 4. Only one entry from each participant will be considered. In case it is discovered that a participant has submitted more than one entry, all the entries from the participant will be disqualified.

Manner of submission: The participants would be required to submit six documents online as attachments in a single e-mail to the address: [email protected] . The details of these documents are given in paras 5.4.1.1 to 5.4.1.5. The subject of the e-mail should be written as “Audit Diwas 2022 Essay".

Entries may be e-mailed on any date till 15th September, 2022 by 5 PM.

Click here to read the details.

Summer 2024 Admissions Open Now. Sign up for upcoming live information sessions here (featuring former and current Admission Officers at Havard and UPenn).

Discourse, debate, and analysis

Cambridge re:think essay competition 2024.

Competition Opens: 15th January, 2024

Essay Submission Deadline: 10th May, 2024 Result Announcement: 20th June, 2024 Award Ceremony and Dinner at the University of Cambridge: 30th July, 2024

We welcome talented high school students from diverse educational settings worldwide to contribute their unique perspectives to the competition.

Entry to the competition is free.

About the Competition

The spirit of the Re:think essay competition is to encourage critical thinking and exploration of a wide range of thought-provoking and often controversial topics. The competition covers a diverse array of subjects, from historical and present issues to speculative future scenarios. Participants are invited to engage deeply with these topics, critically analysing their various facets and implications. It promotes intellectual exploration and encourages participants to challenge established norms and beliefs, presenting opportunities to envision alternative futures, consider the consequences of new technologies, and reevaluate longstanding traditions. 

Ultimately, our aim is to create a platform for students and scholars to share their perspectives on pressing issues of the past and future, with the hope of broadening our collective understanding and generating innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. This year’s competition aims to underscore the importance of discourse, debate, and critical analysis in addressing complex societal issues in nine areas, including:

Religion and Politics

Political science and law, linguistics, environment, sociology and philosophy, business and investment, public health and sustainability, biotechonology.

Artificial Intelligence 

Neuroengineering

2024 essay prompts.

This year, the essay prompts are contributed by distinguished professors from Harvard, Brown, UC Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT.

Essay Guidelines and Judging Criteria

Review general guidelines, format guidelines, eligibility, judging criteria.

Awards and Award Ceremony

Award winners will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony and Dinner hosted at the King’s College, University of Cambridge. The Dinner is free of charge for select award recipients.

Registration and Submission

Register a participant account today and submit your essay before the deadline.

Advisory Committee and Judging Panel

The Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition is guided by an esteemed Advisory Committee comprising distinguished academics and experts from elite universities worldwide. These committee members, drawn from prestigious institutions, such as Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT, bring diverse expertise in various disciplines.

They play a pivotal role in shaping the competition, contributing their insights to curate the themes and framework. Their collective knowledge and scholarly guidance ensure the competition’s relevance, academic rigour, and intellectual depth, setting the stage for aspiring minds to engage with thought-provoking topics and ideas.

We are honoured to invite the following distinguished professors to contribute to this year’s competition.

The judging panel of the competition comprises leading researchers and professors from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, and Oxford, engaging in a strictly double blind review process.

Keynote Speeches by 10 Nobel Laureates

We are beyond excited to announce that multiple Nobel laureates have confirmed to attend and speak at this year’s ceremony on 30th July, 2024 .

They will each be delivering a keynote speech to the attendees. Some of them distinguished speakers will speak virtually, while others will attend and present in person and attend the Reception at Cambridge.

Why has religion remained a force in a secular world? 

Professor Commentary:

Arguably, the developed world has become more secular in the last century or so. The influence of Christianity, e.g. has diminished and people’s life worlds are less shaped by faith and allegiance to Churches. Conversely, arguments have persisted that hold that we live in a post-secular world. After all, religion – be it in terms of faith, transcendence, or meaning – may be seen as an alternative to a disenchanted world ruled by entirely profane criteria such as economic rationality, progressivism, or science. Is the revival of religion a pale reminder of a by-gone past or does it provide sources of hope for the future?

‘Religion in the Public Sphere’ by Jürgen Habermas (European Journal of Philosophy, 2006)

In this paper, philosopher Jürgen Habermas discusses the limits of church-state separation, emphasizing the significant contribution of religion to public discourse when translated into publicly accessible reasons.

‘Public Religions in the Modern World’ by José Casanova (University Of Chicago Press, 1994)

Sociologist José Casanova explores the global emergence of public religion, analyzing case studies from Catholicism and Protestantism in Spain, Poland, Brazil, and the USA, challenging traditional theories of secularization.

‘The Power of Religion in the Public Sphere’ by Judith Butler, Jürgen Habermas, Charles Taylor, and Cornel West (Edited by Eduardo Mendieta and Jonathan VanAntwerpen, Columbia University Press, 2011)

This collection features dialogues by prominent intellectuals on the role of religion in the public sphere, examining various approaches and their impacts on cultural, social, and political debates.

‘Rethinking Secularism’ by Craig Calhoun, Mark Juergensmeyer, and Jonathan VanAntwerpen (Oxford University Press, 2011)

An interdisciplinary examination of secularism, this book challenges traditional views, highlighting the complex relationship between religion and secularism in contemporary global politics.

‘God is Back: How the Global Rise of Faith is Changing the World’ by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge (Penguin, 2010)

Micklethwait and Wooldridge argue for the coexistence of religion and modernity, suggesting that religious beliefs can contribute to a more open, tolerant, and peaceful modern world.

‘Multiculturalism’ by Tariq Modood (Polity Press, 2013)

Sociologist Tariq Modood emphasizes the importance of multiculturalism in integrating diverse identities, particularly in post-immigration contexts, and its role in shaping democratic citizenship.

‘God’s Agents: Biblical Publicity in Contemporary England’ by Matthew Engelke (University of California Press, 2013)

In this ethnographic study, Matthew Engelke explores how a group in England seeks to expand the role of religion in the public sphere, challenging perceptions of religion in post-secular England.

Gene therapy is a medical approach that treats or prevents disease by correcting the underlying genetic problem. Is gene therapy better than traditional medicines? What are the pros and cons of using gene therapy as a medicine? Is gene therapy justifiable?

Especially after Covid-19 mRNA vaccines, gene therapy is getting more and more interesting approach to cure. That’s why that could be interesting to think about. I believe that students will enjoy and learn a lot while they are investigating this topic.

The Hall at King’s College, Cambridge

The Hall was designed by William Wilkins in the 1820s and is considered one of the most magnificent halls of its era. The first High Table dinner in the Hall was held in February 1828, and ever since then, the splendid Hall has been where members of the college eat and where formal dinners have been held for centuries.

The Award Ceremony and Dinner will be held in the Hall in the evening of  30th July, 2024.

Stretching out down to the River Cam, the Back Lawn has one of the most iconic backdrop of King’s College Chapel. 

The early evening reception will be hosted on the Back Lawn with the iconic Chapel in the background (weather permitting). 

King’s College Chapel

With construction started in 1446 by Henry VI and took over a century to build, King’s College Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and is a splendid example of late Gothic architecture. 

Attendees are also granted complimentary access to the King’s College Chapel before and during the event. 

Confirmed Nobel Laureates

Dr Thomas R. Cech

The nobel prize in chemistry 1989 , for the discovery of catalytic properties of rna.

Thomas Robert Cech is an American chemist who shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Sidney Altman, for their discovery of the catalytic properties of RNA. Cech discovered that RNA could itself cut strands of RNA, suggesting that life might have started as RNA. He found that RNA can not only transmit instructions, but also that it can speed up the necessary reactions.

He also studied telomeres, and his lab discovered an enzyme, TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase), which is part of the process of restoring telomeres after they are shortened during cell division.

As president of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, he promoted science education, and he teaches an undergraduate chemistry course at the University of Colorado

Sir Richard J. Roberts

The nobel prize in medicine 1993 .

F or the discovery of split genes

During 1969–1972, Sir Richard J. Roberts did postdoctoral research at Harvard University before moving to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he was hired by James Dewey Watson, a co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and a fellow Nobel laureate. In this period he also visited the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the first time, working alongside Fred Sanger. In 1977, he published his discovery of RNA splicing. In 1992, he moved to New England Biolabs. The following year, he shared a Nobel Prize with his former colleague at Cold Spring Harbor Phillip Allen Sharp.

His discovery of the alternative splicing of genes, in particular, has had a profound impact on the study and applications of molecular biology. The realisation that individual genes could exist as separate, disconnected segments within longer strands of DNA first arose in his 1977 study of adenovirus, one of the viruses responsible for causing the common cold. Robert’s research in this field resulted in a fundamental shift in our understanding of genetics, and has led to the discovery of split genes in higher organisms, including human beings.

Dr Aaron Ciechanover

The nobel prize in chemistry 2004 .

F or the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation

Aaron Ciechanover is one of Israel’s first Nobel Laureates in science, earning his Nobel Prize in 2004 for his work in ubiquitination. He is honored for playing a central role in the history of Israel and in the history of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

Dr Ciechanover is currently a Technion Distinguished Research Professor in the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute at the Technion. He is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Russian Academy of Sciences and is a foreign associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences. In 2008, he was a visiting Distinguished Chair Professor at NCKU, Taiwan. As part of Shenzhen’s 13th Five-Year Plan funding research in emerging technologies and opening “Nobel laureate research labs”, in 2018 he opened the Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen campus.

Dr Robert Lefkowitz

The nobel prize in chemistry 2012 .

F or the discovery of G protein-coupled receptors

Robert Joseph Lefkowitz is an American physician (internist and cardiologist) and biochemist. He is best known for his discoveries that reveal the inner workings of an important family G protein-coupled receptors, for which he was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Brian Kobilka. He is currently an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as well as a James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry at Duke University.

Dr Lefkowitz made a remarkable contribution in the mid-1980s when he and his colleagues cloned the gene first for the β-adrenergic receptor, and then rapidly thereafter, for a total of 8 adrenergic receptors (receptors for adrenaline and noradrenaline). This led to the seminal discovery that all GPCRs (which include the β-adrenergic receptor) have a very similar molecular structure. The structure is defined by an amino acid sequence which weaves its way back and forth across the plasma membrane seven times. Today we know that about 1,000 receptors in the human body belong to this same family. The importance of this is that all of these receptors use the same basic mechanisms so that pharmaceutical researchers now understand how to effectively target the largest receptor family in the human body. Today, as many as 30 to 50 percent of all prescription drugs are designed to “fit” like keys into the similarly structured locks of Dr Lefkowitz’ receptors—everything from anti-histamines to ulcer drugs to beta blockers that help relieve hypertension, angina and coronary disease.

Dr Lefkowitz is among the most highly cited researchers in the fields of biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical medicine according to Thomson-ISI.

Dr Joachim Frank

The nobel prize in chemistry 2017 .

F or developing cryo-electron microscopy

Joachim Frank is a German-American biophysicist at Columbia University and a Nobel laureate. He is regarded as the founder of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2017 with Jacques Dubochet and Richard Henderson. He also made significant contributions to structure and function of the ribosome from bacteria and eukaryotes.

In 1975, Dr Frank was offered a position of senior research scientist in the Division of Laboratories and Research (now Wadsworth Center), New York State Department of Health,where he started working on single-particle approaches in electron microscopy. In 1985 he was appointed associate and then (1986) full professor at the newly formed Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University at Albany, State University of New York. In 1987 and 1994, he went on sabbaticals in Europe, one to work with Richard Henderson, Laboratory of Molecular Biology Medical Research Council in Cambridge and the other as a Humboldt Research Award winner with Kenneth C. Holmes, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg. In 1998, Dr Frank was appointed investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Since 2003 he was also lecturer at Columbia University, and he joined Columbia University in 2008 as professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and of biological sciences.

Dr Barry C. Barish

The nobel prize in physics 2017 .

For the decisive contributions to the detection of gravitational waves

Dr Barry Clark Barish is an American experimental physicist and Nobel Laureate. He is a Linde Professor of Physics, emeritus at California Institute of Technology and a leading expert on gravitational waves.

In 2017, Barish was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Rainer Weiss and Kip Thorne “for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves”. He said, “I didn’t know if I would succeed. I was afraid I would fail, but because I tried, I had a breakthrough.”

In 2018, he joined the faculty at University of California, Riverside, becoming the university’s second Nobel Prize winner on the faculty.

In the fall of 2023, he joined Stony Brook University as the inaugural President’s Distinguished Endowed Chair in Physics.

In 2023, Dr Barish was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Biden in a White House ceremony.

Dr Harvey J. Alter

The nobel prize in medicine 2020 .

For the discovery of Hepatitis C virus

Dr Harvey J. Alter is an American medical researcher, virologist, physician and Nobel Prize laureate, who is best known for his work that led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Alter is the former chief of the infectious disease section and the associate director for research of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. In the mid-1970s, Alter and his research team demonstrated that most post-transfusion hepatitis cases were not due to hepatitis A or hepatitis B viruses. Working independently, Alter and Edward Tabor, a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, proved through transmission studies in chimpanzees that a new form of hepatitis, initially called “non-A, non-B hepatitis” caused the infections, and that the causative agent was probably a virus. This work eventually led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus in 1988, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020 along with Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice.

Dr Alter has received recognition for the research leading to the discovery of the virus that causes hepatitis C. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award conferred to civilians in United States government public health service, and the 2000 Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research.

Dr Ardem Patapoutian

The nobel prize in medicine 2021 .

For discovering how pressure is translated into nerve impulses

Dr Ardem Patapoutian is an Lebanese-American molecular biologist, neuroscientist, and Nobel Prize laureate of Armenian descent. He is known for his work in characterising the PIEZO1, PIEZO2, and TRPM8 receptors that detect pressure, menthol, and temperature. Dr Patapoutian is a neuroscience professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California. In 2021, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with David Julius.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I participate in the Re:think essay competition? 

The Re:think Essay competition is meant to serve as fertile ground for honing writing skills, fostering critical thinking, and refining communication abilities. Winning or participating in reputable contests can lead to recognition, awards, scholarships, or even publication opportunities, elevating your academic profile for college applications and future endeavours. Moreover, these competitions facilitate intellectual growth by encouraging exploration of diverse topics, while also providing networking opportunities and exposure to peers, educators, and professionals. Beyond accolades, they instil confidence, prepare for higher education demands, and often allow you to contribute meaningfully to societal conversations or causes, making an impact with your ideas.

Who is eligible to enter the Re:think essay competition?  

As long as you’re currently attending high school, regardless of your location or background, you’re eligible to participate. We welcome students from diverse educational settings worldwide to contribute their unique perspectives to the competition.

Is there any entry fee for the competition? 

There is no entry fee for the competition. Waiving the entry fee for our essay competition demonstrates CCIR’s dedication to equity. CCIR believes everyone should have an equal chance to participate and showcase their talents, regardless of financial circumstances. Removing this barrier ensures a diverse pool of participants and emphasises merit and creativity over economic capacity, fostering a fair and inclusive environment for all contributors.

Subscribe for Competition Updates

If you are interested to receive latest information and updates of this year’s competition, please sign up here.

• Brochure for essay competition
• Brochure for quiz competition

Hospitality education under the banner of Government of India (the then Department of Food, Ministry of Agriculture) was started in India with the establishment of Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Pusa in the year 1962. Two more Institutes at Kolkata and Chennai was also established in 1963 by the Govt. of India. Although, one Catering College was established much earlier at Mumbai, in the year 1954 by the then “All India Women Council” which was an NGO working for improvement of the educational efforts for women and children and also for their social welfare. The said college was taken over by the State Govt. of Maharashtra in 1958 and shifted to it's present campus at Dadar, Mumbai. Although, the Govt. of India provided financial and other assistance to the Institute from 1958 but finally taken over in 1979 by renaming it as IHM, Mumbai. These Institutes were running Diploma program in Hotel Management with the approval of respective State Technical Boards.

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR HOTEL MANAGEMENT AND CATERING TECHNOLOGY, NOIDA

(under Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India)

NCHMCT Launches following two competitions for the students of class 12th and 11th of any recognised Senior Secondary School in India

Recognition of the school:

• Schools from where the participant will win 1st, 2nd & 3rd prize will be awarded by a trophy and a Golden plaque.
• School from where 20 or more students participated in the competition will be recognized with a golden plaque.
• Schools from where 15 or more but less than 20 students participated in the competition will be recognized with a silver plaque.

IHMs under NCHMCT ranked top in India and world rank 13th by CEO World (USA) for the year 2022

is the most demanded by the Industry and most prestigious program running by the IHMs under NCHMCT and recognised by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi

Join India’s top IHMs under NCHMCT and get a Degree from India’s top University i.e. JNU to make your career in the glamorous field of Hospitality Management

nchm.gov.in Toll free No. 1800 180 3151

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Best Essay Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 54 contests that match your search.

Irene Adler Prize

Lucas Ackroyd

Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, and Travel

I’ve traveled the world from Sweden to South Africa, from the Golden Globes to the Olympic women’s hockey finals. I’ve photographed a mother polar bear and her cubs and profiled stars like ABBA, Jennifer Garner and Katarina Witt. And I couldn’t have done it without women. I’ve been very fortunate, and it’s time for me to give back. With the Irene Adler Prize, I’m awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution.

Additional prizes:

2x honorable mentions: $250

📅 Deadline: May 30, 2024 (Expired)

High School Academic Research Competition

Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The High School Academic Research Competition is where talented students from around the world compete to publish high-quality research on any topic. SARC challenges students to sharpen their critical thinking skills, immerse themselves in the research process, and hone their writing skills for success.

Indigo Research Intensive Summer Program

📅 Deadline: April 17, 2024 (Expired)

swamp pink Prizes

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

From January 1st to January 31st, submit short stories and essays of up to 25 pages or a set of 1-3 poems. Winners in each genre will receive $2,000 and publication.

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

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NOWW 26th International Writing Contest

Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)

Open to all writers in four categories: poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and critical writing.

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50

💰 Entry fee: $7

📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)

Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

Gotham Writers Workshop

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is a writing competition sponsored by the stage and radio series Selected Shorts. Selected Shorts is recorded for Public Radio and heard nationally on both the radio and its weekly podcast. This years entries will be judged by Carmen Maria Machado (In the Dream House, Her Body and Other Parties).

$1000 + free 10 week course with Gotham Writers

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award

Killer Nashville

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, and Thriller

The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award is committed to discovering new writers, as well as superlative books by established authors and, upon discovery, sharing those writers and their works with new readers. There are a large number of both fiction and non-fiction categories you can enter.

💰 Entry fee: $79

📅 Deadline: June 15, 2024

The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction

The Letter Review

Genres: Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Crime, Humor, and Science Writing

2-4 Winners are published. We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Seeking Nonfiction 0-5000 words. Judges’ feedback available. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no theme or genre restrictions. Judged blind. All entries considered for publication + submission to Pushcart.

Publication by The Letter Review

💰 Entry fee: $2

📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired)

Indignor Play House Annual Short Story Competition

Indignor House Publishing

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

Indignor House Publishing is proud to announce that our annual writing competition (INDIGNOR PLAYHOUSE Short Story Annual Competition) is officially open with expected publication in the fall of 2024. Up to 25 submissions will be accepted for inclusion in the annual anthology.

2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150

Annual Student Essay Contest

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

For this year’s Essay Contest, we are asking students to think about why the story of the Oklahoma City bombing is important today.

📅 Deadline: March 04, 2024 (Expired)

International Essay Competition 2023/24

Avernus Education

Genres: Essay

Welcome to our prestigious International Essay Competition. At Avernus Education, we are thrilled to provide a platform for young minds to showcase their prowess in Medicine, Engineering, Law, Economics, Psychology, History and Politics. These varied subject categories underscore the importance of interdisciplinary study, a crucial foundation for future leaders in our increasingly interconnected world. Winners receive an exclusive Avernus Education Scholarship worth over £5000 - granting them free entrance to our exclusive summer camp at Oxford University! Outstanding Runners Up receive 5 hours worth of Credits for Avernus Education courses, conferences and tutoring services.

100% Scholarship Award to our Oxford University Summer Programme (worth £5995)

Partial scholarship

📅 Deadline: February 19, 2024 (Expired)

Military Anthology: Partnerships, the Untold Story

Armed Services Arts Partnership

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

Partners are an integral aspect of military life, at home and afar, during deployment and after homecoming. Partnerships drive military action and extend beyond being a battle buddy, wingman, or crew member. Some are planned while others arise entirely unexpectedly. Spouses, family, old or new friends, community, faith leaders, and medical specialists all support the military community. Despite their importance, the stories of these partnerships often go untold. This anthology aims to correct that: We will highlight the nuances, surprises, joy, sorrow, heroism, tears, healing power, and ache of partnerships. We invite you to submit the story about partnerships from your journey, so we can help tell it.

$500 Editors' Choice award

$250 for each genre category (prose, poetry, visual art)

The Letter Review Prize for Books

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Letter Review Prize for Books is open to writers from anywhere in the world. Seeking most unpublished (we accept some self/indie published) novels, novellas, story collections, nonfiction, poetry etc. 20 entries are longlisted.

$1000 USD shared by 3 winners

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

Tusculum Review Nonfiction Chapbook Prize

The Tusculum Review

A prize of $1,000, publication of the essay in The Tusculum Review’s 20th Anniversary Issue (2024), and creation of a limited edition stand-alone chapbook with original art is awarded. Editors of The Tusculum Review and contest judge Mary Cappello will determine the winner of the 2024 prize.

The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction

Lascuax Review

Creative nonfiction may include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, or discovered. Pieces may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024

Berggruen Prize Essay Competition

Berggruen Institute

The Berggruen Prize Essay Competition, in the amount of $25,000 USD for the English and Chinese language category respectively, is given annually to stimulate new thinking and innovative concepts while embracing cross-cultural perspectives across fields, disciplines, and geographies. Inspired by the pivotal role essays have played in shaping thought and inquiry, we are inviting essays that follow in the tradition of renowned thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Michel de Montaigne, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Publication in Noema Magazine

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024

Great American Think-Off

New York Mills Regional Cultural Center

The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas that connect to your life at the gut level. The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, sponsors this annual philosophy contest.

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)

Narratively 2023 Memoir Prize

Narratively

Genres: Essay, Humor, Memoir, and Non-fiction

Narratively is currently accepting submissions for their 2023 Memoir Prize. They are looking for revealing and emotional first-person nonfiction narratives from unique and overlooked points of view. The guest judge is New York Times bestselling memoirist Stephanie Land.

$1,000 and publication

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2023 (Expired)

Personal Essay Competition 2024

Write the World

Genres: Essay and Memoir

We want to hear about an experience in your life, rife with characters and description and conflict and scene… but we also want to hear how you make sense of this experience, how it sits with you, and why it has surfaced as writing. Open a window into your life and invite your readers to enter.

Best entry: $100

Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50

📅 Deadline: June 24, 2024

National Essay Contest

U.S. Institute of Peace

This year, AFSA celebrates the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service. Over the last century, our diplomats and development professionals have been involved in groundbreaking events in history – decisions on war and peace, supporting human rights and freedom, creating joint prosperity, reacting to natural disasters and pandemics and much more. As AFSA looks back on this century-long history, we invite you to join us in also looking ahead to the future. This year students are asked to explore how diplomats can continue to evolve their craft to meet the needs of an ever-changing world that brings fresh challenges and opportunities to the global community and America’s place in it.

Runner-up: $1,250

Literary and Photographic Contest 2023-2024

Hispanic Culture Review

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry

As we move forward we carry our culture wherever we go. It keeps us alive. This is why we propose the theme to be “¡Hacia delante!”. A phrase that means to move forward. This year we ask that you think about the following questions: What keeps you moving forward? What do you carry with you going into the future? How do you celebrate your successes, your dreams, and your culture?

Publication in magazine

📅 Deadline: February 07, 2024 (Expired)

Creative Nonfiction Prize

Indiana Review

Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction

Send us one creative nonfiction piece, up to 5000 words, for a chance at $1000 + publication. This year's contest will be judged by Lars Horn.

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

Journalism Competition 2024

What are the most important issues taking place close to home? Perhaps a rare bird sighting near your town? Or a band of young people in your province fighting for access to higher education? This month, immerse yourself in a newsworthy event inside the borders of your own country, and invite us there through your written reporting.

📅 Deadline: July 22, 2024

Stories of Inspiration

Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc

Nonfiction stories of inspiration wanted (between 500 to 2,000 words). Submissions should highlight the struggle and resilience of the human spirit, especially related to cultures of BIPOC or marginalized communities. Stories must be original, unpublished works in English. One successful entry will be awarded each month from April 2024 and will be included within Kinsman Quarterly’s online journal and digital magazine. Successful authors receive $200 USD and publication in our digital magazine. No entry fee required.

Publication in Kinsman Quarterly's online magazine

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024

Goldilocks Zone

Sunspot Literary Journal

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story

Sunspot Lit is looking for the perfect combination of craft and appeal in stories, CNF, novel or novella excerpts, artwork, graphic novels, poems, scripts/screenplays. Literary and genre accepted. Enter through Submittable or Duotrope.

💰 Entry fee: $10

Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest

Jane Austen Society of North America

Genres: Children's and Essay

JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest to foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works in new generations of readers. Students world-wide are invited to compete for scholarship awards in three divisions: high school, college, and graduate school.

$1,000 scholarship

Two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2022 (Expired)

100 Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel

Can you write a story using 100 words or less? Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what's possible or unexpectedly delights us. In addition, we are looking for writing that is clever or unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling and complete story. The first-place prize has doubled to $2,000 USD.

2nd: writing coach package

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024

Aurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Award

Trio House Press

Genres: Essay, Memoir, and Non-fiction

We seek un-agented full-length creative nonfiction manuscripts including memoir, essay collections, etc. 50,000 - 80,000 words.

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2024 (Expired)

Anthology Travel Writing Competition 2024

Anthology Magazine

The Anthology Travel Writing Competition is open to original and previously unpublished travel articles in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for an engaging article that will capture the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture. Max 1000 words.

💰 Entry fee: $16

Annual Contest Submissions

So To Speak

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, LGBTQ, Non-fiction, and Poetry

So To Speak is seeking submissions for poetry, fiction, and non-fiction with an intersectional feminist lens! It is no secret that the literary canon and literary journals are largely comprised of heteronormative, patriarchal, cisgender, able-bodied white men. So to Speak seeks work by writers, poets, and artists who want to challenge and change the identity of the “canonical” writer.

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)

WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

WOW! Women On Writing

Genres: Non-fiction and Essay

Seeking creative nonfiction essays on any topic (1000 words or less) and in any style--from personal essay and memoir to lyric essay and hybrid, and more! The mission of this contest is to reward bravery in real-life storytelling and create an understanding of our world through thoughtful, engaging narratives. Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.

2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards

💰 Entry fee: $12

World Historian Student Essay Competition

World History Association

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international competition open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs. Membership in the World History Association is not a requirement for submission. Past winners may not compete in the same category again.

Askew's Word on the Lake Writing Contest

Shuswap Association of Writers

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Essay, Memoir, and Short Story

Whether you’re an established or emerging writer, the Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest has a place for you. Part of the Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival in Salmon Arm, BC, the contest is open to submissions in short fiction (up to 2,000 words), nonfiction (up to 2,000 words), and poetry (up to three one-page poems).

💰 Entry fee: $11

Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest

Lazuli Literary Group

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, and Script Writing

We are not concerned with genre distinctions. Send us the best you have; we want only for it to be thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful. We want art that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous phrases executed with thematic intent.

Publication in "AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought"

📅 Deadline: March 24, 2024 (Expired)

Rigel 2024: $500 for Prose, Poetry, Art, or Graphic Novel

Literary or genre works accepted. Winner receives $500 plus publication, while runners-up and finalists are offered publication. No restrictions on theme or category. Closes: February 29. Entry fee: $12.50. Enter as many times as you like through Submittable or Duotrope

$500 + publication

Runners-up and finalists are offered publication

International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition

Vine Leaves Press

Genres: Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Novel

Small presses have potential for significant impact, and at Vine Leaves Press, we take this responsibility quite seriously. It is our responsibility to give marginalized groups the opportunity to establish literary legacies that feel rich and vast. Why? To sustain hope for the world to become a more loving, tolerable, and open space. It always begins with art. That is why we have launched this writing competition.

Book publication

📅 Deadline: July 01, 2024

Discover the finest writing contests of 2024 for fiction and non-fiction authors — including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by Reedsy to weed out the scammers and time-wasters. If you’re looking to stick to free writing contests, simply use our filters as you browse.

Why you should submit to writing contests

Submitting to poetry competitions and free writing contests in 2024 is absolutely worth your while as an aspiring author: just as your qualifications matter when you apply for a new job, a writing portfolio that boasts published works and award-winning pieces is a great way to give your writing career a boost. And not to mention the bonus of cash prizes!

That being said, we understand that taking part in writing contests can be tough for emerging writers. First, there’s the same affliction all writers face: lack of time or inspiration. Entering writing contests is a time commitment, and many people decide to forego this endeavor in order to work on their larger projects instead — like a full-length book. Second, for many writers, the chance of rejection is enough to steer them clear of writing contests. 

But we’re here to tell you that two of the great benefits of entering writing contests happen to be the same as those two reasons to avoid them.

When it comes to the time commitment: yes, you will need to expend time and effort in order to submit a quality piece of writing to competitions. That being said, having a hard deadline to meet is a great motivator for developing a solid writing routine.

Think of entering contests as a training session to become a writer who will need to meet deadlines in order to have a successful career. If there’s a contest you have your eye on, and the deadline is in one month, sit down and realistically plan how many words you’ll need to write per day in order to meet that due date — and don’t forget to also factor in the time you’ll need to edit your story!

For tips on setting up a realistic writing plan, check out this free, ten-day course: How to Build a Rock-Solid Writing Routine.

In regards to the fear of rejection, the truth is that any writer aspiring to become a published author needs to develop relatively thick skin. If one of your goals is to have a book traditionally published, you will absolutely need to learn how to deal with rejection, as traditional book deals are notoriously hard to score. If you’re an indie author, you will need to adopt the hardy determination required to slowly build up a readership.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple trick for learning to deal with rejection: use it as a chance to explore how you might be able to improve your writing.

In an ideal world, each rejection from a publisher or contest would come with a detailed letter, offering construction feedback and pointing out specific tips for improvement. And while this is sometimes the case, it’s the exception and not the rule.

Still, you can use the writing contests you don’t win as a chance to provide yourself with this feedback. Take a look at the winning and shortlisted stories and highlight their strong suits: do they have fully realized characters, a knack for showing instead of telling, a well-developed but subtly conveyed theme, a particularly satisfying denouement?

The idea isn’t to replicate what makes those stories tick in your own writing. But most examples of excellent writing share a number of basic craft principles. Try and see if there are ways for you to translate those stories’ strong points into your own unique writing.

Finally, there are the more obvious benefits of entering writing contests: prize and publication. Not to mention the potential to build up your readership, connect with editors, and gain exposure.

Resources to help you win writing competitions in 2024

Every writing contest has its own set of submission rules. Whether those rules are dense or sparing, ensure that you follow them to a T. Disregarding the guidelines will not sway the judges’ opinion in your favor — and might disqualify you from the contest altogether. 

Aside from ensuring you follow the rules, here are a few resources that will help you perfect your submissions.

Free online courses

On Writing:

How to Craft a Killer Short Story

The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction

How to Write a Novel

Understanding Point of View

Developing Characters That Your Readers Will Love

Writing Dialogue That Develops Plot and Character

Stop Procrastinating! Build a Solid Writing Routine

On Editing:

Story Editing for Authors

How to Self-Edit Like a Pro

Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites

How to Write a Short Story in 7 Steps

Reedsy's guide to novel writing

Literary Devices and Terms — 35+ Definitions With Examples

10 Essential Fiction Writing Tips to Improve Your Craft

How to Write Dialogue: 8 Simple Rules and Exercises

8 Character Development Exercises to Help You Nail Your Character

Bonus resources

200+ Short Story Ideas

600+ Writing Prompts to Inspire You

100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Fiction Authors

Story Title Generator

Pen Name Generator

Character Name Generator

After you submit to a writing competition in 2024

It’s exciting to send a piece of writing off to a contest. However, once the initial excitement wears off, you may be left waiting for a while. Some writing contests will contact all entrants after the judging period — whether or not they’ve won. Other writing competitions will only contact the winners. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind after you submit:

Many writing competitions don’t have time to respond to each entrant with feedback on their story. However, it never hurts to ask! Feel free to politely reach out requesting feedback — but wait until after the selection period is over.

If you’ve submitted the same work to more than one writing competition or literary magazine, remember to withdraw your submission if it ends up winning elsewhere.

After you send a submission, don’t follow it up with a rewritten or revised version. Instead, ensure that your first version is thoroughly proofread and edited. If not, wait until the next edition of the contest or submit the revised version to other writing contests.

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• Education News

Berggruen Prize Essay Competition: A platform for global thinkers

• Monetary award: Win a $25,000 USD cash prize!
• Languages: Open to essays written in English and Chinese.
• Theme on Planetarity: Reflect on our interconnected relationship with each other, nonhuman others, and the planetary whole.
• Deadline: June 30th, 2024.

Visual Stories

Competition Open

full scholarships Awarded each year

entries each year

Share Your Success

Scholarship Award Certificate PDFs For Winners

What is the Essay Competition?

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a question of their choice relating to a subject of interest. There are over twenty questions to choose from which can be found in our full Essay Competition Guide. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship to study with us at a world-leading university of their choosing. Outstanding runners-up also receive partial scholarships.

23rd February 2024

Competition opens

12th September 2024

Competition closes

17th October 2024

Results announced

January, July & August 2025

Programme dates

Who Can Apply?

• The Immerse Education Essay Competition is open to students worldwide of all nationalities. You must be aged between 13-18 during your chosen programme.

10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship. Take a look at previous essay competition winners.

Runners Up will be awarded partial scholarships of up to 50% to study their chosen subject with Immerse. The number of runners-up will be determined by the number of entries received and the quality of the work submitted. The next category of entrants who are not runner-ups receive partial scholarships worth up to 20%.

Our Guest Judges

Éabha Lynn is this year's Editorial Scholar at The BMJ, looking after all the content BMJ Student produces. She runs a blog and podcast at BMJ student, and has extensive writing, editorial and curative experience in the world of medicine.

Arnold Longboy

Arnold Longboy has worked amongst the top business schools in the world, and is currently the Executive Director of the Recruitment & Admissions Team at London Business School.

Susmita Bhattacharya

Susmita won the Winchester Writer’s Festival Memoir Prize in 2016 and her novel, The Normal State of Mind was longlisted for the Words to Screen Prize at the Mumbai Association of Moving Images (MAMI) festival in India.

Amelia Suda-Gosch

Female Future Leaders Judge, Co-CEO of Female Founders

Tom Ireland

Tom Ireland is an editor at The Biologist, an award-winning magazine of the Royal Society of Biology. He is a regular contributor to the monthly magazine BBC Science Focus and has also written for The Guardian, New Scientist, and BBC News.

Programmes Our Scholarship Can be Redeemed Against

Reviews and winners, what do our alumni say.

I loved the little conversations we had when a question about the topic turned into explanations of the ethical, personal and economic issues that surround medicine. Overall, I found my lessons very beneficial. I know so much more about medicine and its different subsets, but also about what a career in medicine really looks like.

Immerse alumni, and scholarship winner

I could see that the essay competition was an incredible opportunity for international students to win a scholarship purely based on merit. More importantly, after doing some more research, I realised that the process for choosing winners was incredibly fair, that everyone would get an equal chance regardless of their socio-economic background, race, nationality, gender, etc.

100% Scholarship Winner

I enrolled because I wanted to expand my knowledge of physics and meet other people with the same interests as myself. Both of which I was successful in doing! My favourite aspect of the programme was the small class sizes – this helped both the tutor and students with learning and understanding the subject.

Immerse was very fun as well as useful. You were able to experience what it would be like if you studied here for university. The most beneficial part of the course was being able to see what International Relations is like, and it helped me decide what I want to study in the future.

My school invited everyone to participate, and the further I read about Immerse Education, the more motivated I was to enter the competition. Not only did I have the chance to study a subject I love, I would also be able to expand on my essay skills since writing has always been a passion of mine.

I really wanted to go to medicine summer school this year, and so I literally was searching for summer school opportunities and Immerse is one that came up. Through this, I found out about the essay competition and I decided to submit an answer. Immerse was very helpful whilst I was writing my essay, especially with things like the referencing guide.

I’m 16, so I’ve never written an academic essay before, so it was really important that I actually knew what I was doing in the first place and it definitely helped me with that. The programme so far has been very enriching. It’s helped me understand more about medicine and made me realise that this is what I want to do in life. Meeting new friends, tutors, and the mentors, they’re all amazing. My favourite things on the programme have been the evening activities, like murder mystery night. I am so happy to be able to have seen people that are like minded, and competitive as well. I really think that the tutors and the mentors have all been very supportive of me.

Academic Insights, Medicine

Hear From a Previous Scholarship Winner

The Immerse Education Essay Competition is open to entries from young people aged 13-18 interested in all subjects, from Architecture to Medicine, Creative Writing to Film Studies. However, students aged 18 should only submit an essay if they will still be 18 when the programmes the scholarships are valid for begin.

To confirm, if participants are successful, they should be aged between 13 and 18 at the start of their programme.

This current round of the essay competition is valid for 2025 Immerse Education programmes.

Immerse provides a full essay-writing guide which is sent to your email address once you register your interest in the competition. This guide includes a full list of essay questions, our essay specification, top tips for writing an academic essay, referencing guidance, our terms and conditions and guidance on plagiarism! Registering interest also ensures that you’re on track to submitting your essay on time, through a series of helpful reminder prompts. To support further you can register for our  webinars , which offer top tips and guidance with essay writing from our experts. You are also welcome to explore our  creative writing resources .

Funded scholarship to study abroad:  Our essay competition offers students like you the chance to win a full or partial scholarship to one of our Online Programmes or residential programmes in locations such as Oxford, Cambridge, Sydney, London and more.

Ongoing support from Immerse while you write:  Full support from our team as you write your essay, with free guides and top tips to help you along the way. Sign up to receive our full Essay competition Guide and free tips and tricks as you write. You can also follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok to get more useful essay writing tips.

Demonstrate what you know:  The competition is a chance for you to demonstrate your content knowledge by answering advanced university-style questions.

Build your skills and knowledge:  The opportunity to apply and advance your essay writing skills. You will likely learn something new in the process!

Develop your self-discipline:  A chance to strengthen your self-discipline as you commit to a challenging project and complete it from start to finish.

If you win a scholarship via the Essay Competition 2024/2025 you can use it toward any residential course in any of our locations. Use your scholarship to enrol on one of our renowned online programmes* or enriching in-person/residential summer school programmes in cultural melting pots such as Cambridge, Oxford, London or Sydney and more. * Essay competition schorlaships cannot be redeemed against online Intensive programmes.

No, there is no entry fee and you do not need to have already enrolled onto any of our programmes to take part in the essay competition.

The deadline for all essay entries for the last round of the competition is 4th January 2024. The next deadline will most likely be on 12th September 2024.

Register to receive free Essay Competition guidance

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a pre-set question relating to their chosen subject. Register interest to receive your guide with the comprehensive list of questions including:

• – Essay Specifications
• – Top Tips for Writing an Academic Essay
• – Referencing Guidance
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• more Events Visual Stories IPL 2024

World Environment Day 2024: Essay, Speech And Drawing Ideas for Students

World Environment Day 2024 Essay, Speech, and Drawing Ideas: Every year, people across the country celebrate World Environment Day. It's a perfect chance to raise awareness about environmental issues and their importance. The goal of this event is to inspire awareness and action for protecting the environment. World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th each year and is organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

World Environment Day 2024: Theme

The theme for World Environment Day 2024 , according to the official website, focuses on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience, under the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration. ” The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the 2024 global celebrations.

World Environment Day 2024: Essay, Speech, and Drawing Ideas for Students

World Environment Day signifies a commitment to ending plastic use and preventing the depletion of natural resources. Celebrations take place worldwide, with schools and colleges organising events like debates and essay competitions. Here are some ideas for essays, speeches, and drawings for Environment Day 2024:

World Environment Day Speech for Student in English

Respected Sir,

Today, we come together to celebrate World Environment Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness and taking action to protect our precious planet. This year's theme, "Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration," highlights the urgent need for land restoration, desertification prevention, and drought resilience. As we gather here, let us remember that our actions today will shape the world for future generations.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, our host for this year, stands as a beacon of commitment to these vital environmental goals. Together, we can combat land degradation, restore ecosystems, and ensure a sustainable future for all. Let us pledge to adopt eco-friendly practices, support reforestation, and promote sustainable land management.

Each small step we take contributes to a healthier, greener planet. Let us be the generation that restores and cherishes our land, securing a bright and prosperous future for all.

10 Line speech for World Environment Day 2024

• World Environment Day 2024 is celebrated on June 5th, focusing on the theme “Our land. Our future.
• We are #GenerationRestoration.” This year’s campaign emphasises the importance of land restoration, combatting desertification, and enhancing drought resilience.
• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosts the global celebrations, showcasing their commitment to environmental sustainability.
• World Environment Day serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and restore our planet.
• It encourages individuals, communities, and nations to take action towards a sustainable future.
• Simple actions like planting trees, reducing waste, and conserving water can make a significant impact.
• Together, we can restore degraded lands, support biodiversity, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
• Let us unite as #GenerationRestoration to secure a healthier planet for future generations.
• This World Environment Day, let's be the change we need.
• Plant a seed, conserve each drop, choose green every time.
• Together, we can heal the Earth, one action at a time.

Short World Environment Day Speech

Good morning, everyone .

Today, we celebrate World Environment Day, a crucial reminder of our responsibility to protect our planet. This year's theme, "Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration," highlights the urgent need for land restoration and combating desertification and drought. Our actions today will shape the world for future generations. Let’s commit to reducing our plastic use, conserving water, and supporting sustainable practices. By working together, we can heal our planet and ensure a healthier, greener future. Remember, every small step counts. Let’s be the change we wish to see in the world.

World Environment Day Essay (100 words)

World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated globally every year on the 5th of June. It aims to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage positive actions for the planet. This day is organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), established by the UN General Assembly in 1972. It focuses on improving current environmental conditions and making the world a better place. Celebrated in over 100 countries, it inspires both public and political efforts to address environmental challenges. The goal is to motivate everyone to become active agents of sustainable and eco-friendly development worldwide.

World Environment Day Essay (150 words)

World Environment Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, is celebrated every year on the 5th of June. This day was announced at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment to address environmental issues. The United Nations designed it as a key tool for raising global awareness about pressing environmental problems. The main goal is to show people the true face of environmental issues and empower them to become active agents of eco-friendly development worldwide. It encourages people to change their attitudes towards the environment for a safer future. In Kerala, the State Council for Science, Technology and Environment organises state-level activities based on the annual theme. For example, in 2016, the theme was “Fight against the Illegal Trade in Wildlife”. This day promotes awareness and inspires actions to protect our environment.

World Environment Day Essay (200 words)

World Environment Day is celebrated globally on the 5th of June each year. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, this day aims to raise awareness about environmental issues and motivate people to take positive actions for the planet. The campaign began during the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and is managed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). On World Environment Day 2015, India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, planted a sapling at his official residence, highlighting the importance of the day.

Media and celebrities promote the objectives of this campaign, encouraging public participation and awareness. Goodwill ambassadors from UNEP send messages worldwide, urging action for World Environment Day. This campaign calls on people to join the celebration in large numbers, understand the real environmental conditions, and become active agents in combating climate change. We should all participate in this celebration and pledge to protect our environment for a better future.

World Environment Day Essay (250 words)

World Environment Day is an annual campaign celebrated on the 5th of June to inspire people worldwide to address negative environmental changes. Established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly, its first celebration was on the 5th of June 1973. Each year, the celebration is based on a specific theme declared by the United Nations, and various activities are organised to highlight environmental issues.

The campaign aims to encourage positive changes in the environment and ensure a safe future for our planet. It brings together people from different countries to discuss environmental topics and engage in activities like essay writing, speech recitation, art competitions, and more. The campaign promotes public action and political attention towards environmental protection.

Activities during World Environment Day celebrations include parades, cleanup activities, concerts, tree planting, and recycling initiatives. Although it is not a public holiday, schools and offices remain open, and everyone is encouraged to participate. The goal is to work together for positive actions that maintain the planet's beauty. We should remember the campaign's objectives throughout the year and act accordingly to preserve our environment.

World Environment Day Essay (300 words)

World Environment Day is celebrated annually on the 5th of June in almost 100 countries. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 and first celebrated in 1973. Each year, a different theme is declared by the United Nations to inspire positive actions for the environment.

The campaign is hosted by different cities each year, where international exhibitions take place for a week. The United Nations raises awareness about environmental issues through this campaign, which effectively encourages public action and political attention.

Various activities are organised during the celebrations, including essay writing, speech recitations, drama plays, street rallies, art and painting competitions, parades, debates, and more. These activities attract a large gathering of academics, environmentalists, scientists, politicians, and the general public, fostering new ideas about the environment.

In addition to the host city's celebrations, countries celebrate World Environment Day in their states, cities, schools, and colleges. Activities include parades, cleanup initiatives, concerts, recycling efforts, and tree planting. Although it is not a public holiday, everyone is encouraged to participate and take positive actions for the environment.

World Environment Day promotes the idea that we have only one planet to live on, and it is our responsibility to maintain its natural beauty. By participating in the campaign and taking actions such as planting trees, conserving water, reducing electricity use, and supporting wildlife, we can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable planet.

World Environment Day Essay (400 words)

World Environment Day is an annual campaign celebrated on the 5th of June to address environmental issues and implement effective plans for a safer, healthier future. Declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, it is a significant day for spreading awareness and encouraging positive actions for the planet.

WED was established with various plans and objectives to address environmental problems and promote sustainable development. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and celebrated in over 100 countries. The campaign's goal is to change people's attitudes towards the environment and ensure a prosperous future for all nations.

The celebration is hosted by different cities each year, with a unique theme declared by the UNGA. Activities include tree planting, cultural events, drawing and painting competitions, quizzes, debates, lectures, essay writing, and more. Workshops on sustainable project management are also organised to encourage youths to address environmental and climate change issues.

In 2009, an environment fair was held in Chennai and Bangalore, featuring activities like painting competitions, e-waste management training, renewable energy devices, wildlife conservation, rainwater harvesting systems, debates on global warming, and awareness drives about the "go green" revolution. These activities promote eco-friendly infrastructure and energy efficiency to combat global warming and save natural resources.

World Environment Day brings people from all countries together to deal with climate change and improve forest management. It is an effective campaign that enhances political attention and public action. By participating in WED, we can contribute to a healthier planet and ensure a safer future for generations to come. Let us all pledge to take positive actions and work together to maintain the beauty of our planet.

World Environment Day 2024: FAQs

What is the theme of World Environment Day 2024?

The theme for World Environment Day 2024 is "Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience." The slogan is "Our Land, Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration."

When is World Environment Day?

World Environment Day is always held on June 5th.

Who is hosting 2024 World Environment Day?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be hosting the 2024 World Environment Day global celebrations.

What can I do to get involved in World Environment Day?

There are many ways you can get involved in World Environment Day! You can find a practical guide with ideas for individuals, businesses, and governments on the World Environment Day website [World Environment Day Get Involved]. Some ideas include:

• Planting trees
• Reducing your consumption of resources
• Supporting sustainable businesses
• Getting involved in local restoration projects
• Raising awareness about environmental issues

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit  Indiatimes Events . 

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Insights Weekly Essay Challenges 2024 – Week 182 – Escape Competition Through Authenticity

Insights weekly essay challenges 2024 – week 182.

2 June 2024

Write an essay on the following topic in not more than 1000-1200 words:

“Escape Competition Through Authenticity.”

Essay Perspectives by DK Balaji Sir on the topic : Escape Competition Through Authenticity

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Amazon's India growth story: How the e-commerce giant is trying to overcome stiff competition with new expansion strategies

• Byline: Krishna Gopalan
• Producer: Arnav Das Sharma

Photos: Selvaprakash Lakshmanan

The e-commerce giant has seen steady growth since its entry into India in 2013, but the offline piece remains a challenge. After losing out on the Future retail acquisition, how does it plan to keep the growth engines revving?

In mid-November last   year, Manish Tiwary, Amazon India’s Country Manager, made a presentation to the parent company’s external board at its Seattle headquarters. Tiwary spoke not just about the opportunities in India but also about innovations on the customer and seller fronts and the vast talent pool. The board, which includes eminent names such as India-born Indra Nooyi, a former Chair and CEO of PepsiCo, looked pleased.

“There was palpable excitement,” Tiwary tells BT at Amazon India’s headquarters in Bengaluru. Turned out in a pair of jeans topped with a collared T-shirt and a blazer, he recalls how the discussion veered around, among other things, the work on Generative AI taking place out of India. “After Seattle, the largest talent pool for Amazon is in India,” he says. 

Amazon has grown rapidly since launching its e-commerce business in India in 2013, although it was not the first player to enter the market. Six or seven players occupied the space, including Flipkart, its main rival today, which had a six-year head start.

MANISH TIWARY Country Manager Amazon India

From revenues of Rs 112 crore in FY13, Amazon closed FY23 with Rs 22,198 crore but with a loss of Rs 4,854 crore, which is not unusual given how it invests in its operations. A recent report by financial services and research firm JM Financial estimates Amazon India’s gross merchandise value (GMV)was around $18 billion in FY23, compared with Flipkart’s $20 billion (excluding Myntra, its fashion e-commerce business). Last June, Amazon committed to investing $15 billion in India over the next seven years, bringing its total investment across its businesses to $26 billion.

Tiwary is clear that the e-commerce tale in India is still being written, and companies like Amazon “have barely scratched the surface”. Penetration levels for e-commerce are at 1-2%, he reckons. ONDC or One Network for Digital Commerce, a not-for-profit company created by the government, pegs e-retail penetration to be only 4.3%, well below China’s 25% or the UK’s 23%.

“ Amazon had set processes and globalscale experience... It became easier for them to scale up quickly with the right local talent and a level of localisation ” NEIL SHAH Research Vice President and Partner Counterpoint Research 

Competition does exist, most notably from Flipkart (launched in 2007 but acquired by Walmart in 2018) and others, including Reliance’s JioMart. But the headroom for growth is unlimited. Amazon would have been even more pleased had it bagged Kishore Biyani’s Future Retail, a big player in offline retail, but it was outsmarted by Reliance. Its acquisition has been locked in courtroom battles for years, and the prospects of a speedy resolution appear to be bleak ( see box ). 

Bespoke everything

Amazon attributes its growth here to its India-specific approach, among other things. Tiwary, who joined Amazon in mid-2016 after over two decades at Hindustan Unilever Ltd, points out that organised trade was small. “If you asked a seller for a catalogue, all you got was a stunned look!”

He keeps talking about the opportunities here and why Amazon is well-positioned for a specific reason. “Our DNA is around digital, and that applies to everything we do,” says Tiwari.

The Covid-19 pandemic fast-tracked digital adoption across businesses, and Amazon was no exception. A presence across categories helped as people turned to online purchases. Take the pharmacy business, where a brick-and-mortar store typically keeps 4,000-5,000 medicines. Around half of this relates to chronic ailments. “When we launched, we were clear about having 20,000 [kinds of] medicines,” he says. The focus was on the consumer, ease of availability, and the thrust on chronic diseases.

“Amazon India’s entire portfolio has 12-13 crore [120-130 million] products, which creates the stickiness,” Tiwary says. Amazon sells almost everything, from plumbing fittings to patent leather shoes, from books (Amazon Inc. began as an online retailer of books) to Bombay Duck (dried fish).

Tiwary, who heads the entity known as Amazon Seller Services Pvt. Ltd, says the small seller will be Amazon’s backbone even 50 years down the line. “Our approach has been to build infrastructure in advance,” he says. Last January, Amazon launched Amazon Air in India with two Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Quikjet Cargo Airlines, making it the first e-commerce company in India with an air cargo network. Other initiatives include cash on delivery and fine-tuning the Amazon app to make it lighter when India was still on 2G and 3G. The e-commerce giant’s other businesses in India are Amazon Internet, Amazon Wholesale, Amazon Data, Amazon Pay, and Amazon Retail.

“Innovation is a big part of our business. Offering our service in seven languages was an obvious thing to do to make the customer comfortable,” he explains. Two years ago, it bought GlowRoad, an Indian social commerce start-up, in an all-cash deal, as “we don’t have social commerce anywhere else, and it was done in line with the emerging trend”.

“ Amazon has taken a more long-term approach here (in India) with a lot of emphasis on localisation initiatives. They needed a large market like India since China was difficult for political and localisation reasons ” Jaspreet Bindra Founder Tech Whisperer UK

Neil Shah, Research Vice President and Partner at Counterpoint Research, a global tech industry research firm, points out that Amazon came into India late but with a strong brand and reputation. “They also had set processes and global-scale experience running billions of dollars of e-commerce operations. It became easier for them to scale up quickly with the right local talent and a level of localisation that aligned well with the Indian consumers,” he says.

Jaspreet Bindra, Founder of consulting firm Tech Whisperer UK, says that Amazon did not treat the Indian business as an extension of the US. “Amazon has taken a more long-term approach here with a lot of emphasis on localisation initiatives. They needed a large market like India since China was difficult for political and localisation reasons,” he says.

MUKESH AMBANI Chairman & Managing Director Reliance Industries

He cites Amazon’s tech prowess, especially in machine learning and deep learning. “It put them ahead regarding PIN code optimisation, setting up logistics, routing algorithms, and selling fresh groceries,” Bindra says.   

Amazon has joined the quick commerce story through Amazon Fresh, using its tech and infrastructure to offer products at specified time slots. With Swiggy’s Instamart, Zomato’s Blinkit and Zepto in the market, it is becoming extremely competitive.

Technology the growth driver

Amazon and Flipkart dominate the e-commerce landscape. While Amazon’s growth has been organic, Flipkart has been much more aggressive. According to Shah, Flipkart has been a local success story that is more mainstream and localised. “It has made diverse bets and gone through some key changes since Amazon’s entry, helping it to keep ahead. Acquisitions such as eBay (its India operations), Myntra, Jabong, PhonePe, and Cleartrip, among others, have helped Flipkart get an edge in the fashion and payments space,” he says. Bindra points out that Flipkart was “massively funded” in its initial days and had a head start over Amazon India. “They built categories like mobiles, fashion and home appliances very well,” he says.

The firm used its tech prowess to customise its India business. Kishore Thota, Director (Shopping Experience), India & Emerging Markets, Amazon, who moved from Seattle in the initial phase, says India became the most visited Amazon location at one point.

Amazon first figured out the ecosystem, with over 25 languages and a heterogeneous customer base. “Everything was built specifically for India from the seller’s or the customer’s side. Some of those learnings are moving to other markets,” Thota says. Take the case of the emerging shopper who is new to e-commerce. “For that person, the trust factor is still being built, and the frequency of shopping is a little low,” Thota says. This emerging shopper can be found worldwide, and Amazon is taking its India lessons places.

For instance, there are customers in advanced markets, such as the US, who prefer paying in cash, and customers in Mexico and Brazil who opt for credit. “India then becomes a base market for the emerging shopper worldwide. The priority is to solve for India and eventually look for similar scenarios elsewhere,” Thota says.

KISHORE BIYANI Founder & Group CEO Future Group

From order to delivery

Amazon’s ‘fulfilment’ centres are the engines of its success. Taking us on a walk through BLR8, one such fulfilment centre, Abhinav Singh, VP (Operations), says that a product shows up on the website the moment it is stocked. Just BLR8 sprawls across 400,000 sq. ft and 2.3 million cubic ft. Why 400,000 sq. ft? “We hit upon this as the ideal number. Larger buildings could reduce supply chain costs, but you will also have a higher degree of automation,” he says. “The priority is to get it right on pricing, selection and convenience.”

Plus, there is a new way Indians are shopping: live commerce. India is witnessing more live commerce on video, where customers can come into contact with an influencer or use AI tools. A buyer can virtually place a television using augmented reality or AR to see what it might look like in a living room. Costs are saved here since a shopper typically orders three curtains, for instance, and then buys one after trying them out. “We are a native technology company, and the question we always ask ourselves relates to how we can automate something,” says Thota.

The Indian market means unpredictability and disruption. JioMart, with its deep pockets, can never be underestimated, and many other B2C businesses make for formidable competition.

Then, there is the not-so-small-matter of the ONDC, billed as the world’s first inclusive large-scale e-commerce system. Tiwary thinks it is still in the early days. “It is largely a hyperlocal model of grocery and food delivery. We are also working closely with them on transport and some technology.”

Shah believes that UPI will eventually have to embrace and integrate ONDC, driving the democratisation of e-commerce for vendors and consumers.

Going forward

While the marketplace is the biggest revenue generator ( see graphic ), an area like advertising can’t be ignored. Tiwary recalls how, a decade ago, launching a national brand was a very expensive affair. “Today, advertising on Amazon has become a very effective medium that helps our sellers establish their brands,” he says. The likes of Bathla Ladders started on Amazon, as did many start-ups. In 2017, he had a couple walking in to say they had an idea and needed help to push it. “That was Mamaearth,” Tiwary says. He cited boAt, which became the fastest-growing wearable electronics brand on the back of e-commerce.

ABHINAV SINGH VP (Operations) Amazon India

The seller base is varied and includes a 90-year-old lady in Chandigarh or just another aspiring unicorn taking its baby steps. “From where India’s per capita income is today placed ($2,400), it can take off [and] along with that, consumption as well. That is the magic about India,” Thota says.

Harish Iyer, EVP (Media & Investments) at Interactive Avenues, India’s largest digital agency, says that the trust that Amazon has built as a reliable e-commerce platform is a significant advantage for D2C brands. “Leveraging Amazon’s reputation plus its customer base and robust algorithms can catapult these brands to new heights of visibility and consumer trust. The ‘fulfilment’ backend helps simplify logistics for these brands, allowing them more time to enhance product quality and marketing strategies,” Iyer says.

MAHENDRA NERURKAR VP (India & Emerging Markets Payments) Amazon Pay

A key feature of Amazon’s strategy is its wide range: customers should be able to shop, make payments, buy flight tickets and gold—get pretty much everything.Then there is Amazon Pay, which Amazon India launched in February 2019 to capitalise on the market opportunity offered by UPI. Amazon Pay users do not have to enter their bank or debit card details. 

Mahendra Nerurkar, Vice President for India & Emerging Markets Payments at Amazon Pay, explains why being open to newer payment processing methods in a market like India is important. “Limited credit card penetration showed how large cash was, and with UPI, there is more engagement on Amazon today. It is a universal phenomenon in Singapore, Australia and Mexico and has greatly simplified user experience.”

KISHORE THOTA Director (Shopping Experience) India & Emerging Markets Amazon

A big hitch in credit cards was the redemption of points. Amazon’s co-branded card with ICICI Bank addresses that and makes it easy for the customer.

A pertinent question is when will Amazon start to become profitable. Tiwary speaks of a clear road map. “We are a large company, and this is a commercial enterprise. We are very happy with the progress and the trajectory, with the primary objective continuing to be customer experience,” he explains. 

Amazon has been here for over a decade, and Indianisation is visible. With its tech expertise and scale, there is a good chance that growth will continue. But with Amazon losing the Future Retail piece, Tiwary will need all the other growth engines to fire. It helps that Amazon has a long-term approach and vision for India. That patience will make success possible in the vastly complicated Indian terrain. That is what Amazon is banking on.

UI Developer : Pankaj Negi Creative Producer : Raj Verma Videos : Mohsin Shaikh Photos : Selvaprakash Lakshmanan

India Lok Sabha election 2024 Phase 7: Who votes and what’s at stake?

Voters will decide the fate of 904 candidates from across 57 seats in the last phase of the Lok Sabha polls on June 1.

Indians will cast ballots in the last phase of the country’s staggered elections on June 1 to decide the fate of 904 candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, concluding the largest electoral exercise in the world that kicked off on April 19.

Fifty-seven seats across eight states and federally-run territories (union territories) are up for grabs as voters will elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to the 18th Lok Sabha – the lower House of Parliament.

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Voters have braved soaring temperatures to cast their ballots, with the first six phases – April 19 ,  April 26,   May 7 ,  May 13, May 20 and May 25 – recording turnouts of 66.1, 66.7, 61.0, 67.3, 60.5 and 63.4 percent, respectively. At least 969 million people are registered to vote.

Will voters back the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance ( INDIA ), which has centred its campaign on “saving the constitution” from what it alleges are attempts by Modi’s government to undermine fundamental tenets of Indian democracy – from freedom of the press to the rights of religious minorities – and on more equitable development in Asia’s third-largest economy?

Or will they repose faith in Modi’s leadership and the continuing rule of the governing National Democratic Alliance (NDA), at a time when the prime minister’s personal popularity remains high?

After Saturday’s vote, the wait won’t be long: All votes will be counted on June 4, when results will be declared.

Who is voting in the seventh phase?

Registered voters in the following seven states and one union territory will cast their ballots for 57 seats:

Punjab : All 13 of the northwestern state’s seats

Himachal Pradesh: All four of the northern state’s seats

Jharkhand: Three of the eastern state’s 14 constituencies

Odisha:  Six of the eastern state’s 21 constituencies

Uttar Pradesh: 13 of the northern state’s 80 constituencies

Bihar:  Eight of the eastern state’s 40 constituencies

West Bengal: Nine of the eastern state’s 42 constituencies

Chandigarh: The union territory’s sole seat.

What are some of the key constituencies?

Varanasi, Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh): Prime Minister Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking a third term from the ancient city of Varanasi in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Ajay Rai from the opposition Congress party is backed by the Samajwadi Party (SP), which is a major player in India’s most populous state. The BJP has dominated the constituency since the early 1990s, after the Hindu nationalist party started a movement to build a Ram Temple in place of the 16th-century Babri Mosque in Ayodhya city. The mosque was demolished in 1992 by a Hindu mob. Modi inaugurated the temple in January, which has featured in BJP’s election campaigning.

Another seat that has attracted media attention is Ghazipur, about 80km (48 miles) east of Varanasi, from where Afzal Ansari, the brother of don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, is contesting on an SP ticket. Mukhtar Ansari died in jail in March. Paras Nath Rai of the BJP is challenging Afzal Ansari.

Patna Sahib, Pataliputra (Bihar): Senior BJP leader and former Federal Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is seeking re-election. The Congress party, which has forged an alliance with the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has fielded Anshul Avishek Kushwaha to challenge Prasad. Former Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha represented the constituency in 2009 and 2014 for the BJP. He has since left the party.

Misa Bharti, the daughter of RJD founder and former Chief Minister Lalu Yadav, will try again to beat Ram Kripal Yadav of the BJP in Pataliputra. Ram Kripal, won the 2014 and 2019 elections.

Mandi, Kangra and Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh): Outspoken Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut of the BJP is challenging Vikramaditya Singh of the Congress party, which governs the Himalayan state, in Mandi. Ranaut is a staunch Modi supporter.

The constituency has long been a bastion of the Singh family. Vikramaditya’s late father Virbhadra Singh was a four-time chief minister of the state and represented the seat in parliament. However, in the 2014 and 2019 elections, the BJP’s Ram Swaroop Sharma won against Pratibha Singh, Vikramaditya’s mother. Pratibha won in 2021 bye-elections after Sharma’s death.

Anurag Thakur, minister for information and broadcasting in Modi’s cabinet, is seeking a fourth term from the family pocket borough of Hamirpur. His father Prem Kumar Dhumal is a former two-time chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. Satpal Raizada of the Congress party will have an uphill task to beat Thakur, who has won the past few elections by wide margins.

Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar (Punjab): Khadoor Sahib is a stronghold of the regional Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which has won the seat a record nine times. But the entry of Sikh separatist leader Amritpal Singh into the race has shone a national spotlight on the constituency. Singh, who is contesting from jail, leads the Waris Punjab De party and backs the Khalistan movement, which calls for a separate Sikh state carved out of Indian Punjab. His main opponents are SAD candidate Virsa Singh Valtoha and Laljit Singh Bhullar from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs the state bordering Pakistan. A win for Amritpal would send alarm bells ringing in India’s security establishment, given Punjab’s history of separatist violence.

Charanjit Singh Channi, former chief minister and a senior leader of the Congress party, is contesting from Jalandhar. Sushil Kumar Rinku of the BJP and Pawan Kumar Tinu of the AAP are Channi’s main challengers. Though the seat has traditionally been a Congress stronghold, AAP’s Sushil Kumar Rinku won the 2023 by-elections after the previous sitting Congress MP died.

Diamond Harbour (West Bengal): Abhishek Banerjee, the influential nephew of the state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is contesting here from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party. He is widely seen as the chief minister’s political heir. BJP old-timer Abhijit Das is competing against Banerjee here.

Chandigarh (Union Territory): The Congress has fielded former minister Manish Tewari from Chandigarh. Tewari’s chances have been boosted after the backing of neighbouring Punjab state’s ruling AAP party. The BJP’s Sanjay Tandon is Tewari’s main challenger. Bollywood actor Kirron Kher, from the BJP, won the seat in 2014 and 2019 but is not contesting this time.

When does the voting start and end?

Voting will begin at 7am local time (01:30 GMT) and conclude at 6pm (12:30 GMT). Voters already in the queue by the time polls close will get to cast their ballots even if that means keeping polling stations open longer.

Which parties rule the states being polled in the seventh phase?

• The BJP governs Uttar Pradesh outright and governs Bihar in an alliance
• Odisha is governed by the NDA-aligned Biju Janata Dal (BJD)
• Congress rules Himachal Pradesh
• Punjab is governed by the INDIA alliance led by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
• Jharkhand is governed by the INDIA alliance led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
• The Trinamool Congress party , a member of the INDIA alliance, has been governing West Bengal since 2011.
• Chandigarh is a federally-run territory.

Who won these Lok Sabha seats in 2019?

• In the last Lok Sabha elections, Congress, parties now affiliated with the INDIA alliance and then-affiliated with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), won 21 of the 57 seats to be decided on June 1.
• The BJP and NDA-allied parties won 30 of these seats.
• The BJD won four of the seats in Odisha while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won two seats in Uttar Pradesh.

How much of India has voted so far?

The first six phases of the Lok Sabha elections have already decided the fate of 487 constituencies out of 543.

So far, voting has concluded for all seats in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Karnataka, Mizoram, Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Telangana, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, the Andaman and Nicobar islands; and the Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, Diu, Ladakh Lakshadweep and Puducherry union territories.

Votes will be counted on June 4 and results will likely be announced the same day.