Call for Participation: PM-YUVA 2.0

In view of the significant impact of the first edition of PM-YUVA Scheme with large scale participation of young and budding authors in 22 Indian languages and English, PM-YUVA 2.0 is being launched on 2nd October 2022

  • The Theme of PM-YUVA 2.0 is Democracy (Institutions, Events, People, and Constitutional Values)

Highlights of the Programme

  • A total of 75 authors will be selected through an All India Contest
  • Mentorship Schedule: 6 months
  • At the end of training and mentorship a consolidated scholarship of Rs. 50,000 per month for a period of six months (50,000 x 6 = Rs. 3 Lakh) per author will be paid under the Mentorship Scheme
  • The genre of the entry of PM-YUVA 2.0 scheme should be Non-Fiction only
  • Only Indian nationals including those holding PIOs or NRIs holding Indian passports can participate in the contest

About The Writing Competition

The scheme will help to develop a stream of writers who can write on various facets of Democracy in India encompassing the past, present and future. Besides, the scheme will also provide a window to the aspiring youth to articulate themselves and present a comprehensive outlook of Indian democratic values at domestic as well as international platforms.

Concept

Democracy, literally meaning “rule by the people,” empowers citizens to exercise control over the form and functioning of their government. It is a form of governance that not only permits but also necessitates public engagement in the electoral process. Some of the elements important to democracy include the principles of freedom, empowerment of its citizens in terms of social, cultural and political process. According to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, “Democracy is not a form of government, but a form of social organisation.”

Democracy in India is as ancient as this country and its culture. India is not just the world’s largest democracy, but also the oldest, making it the mother of democracies. Historically there are multiple examples citing the democratic nature of different societies in India. Elected republican city-states such as Lichhavi and Shakya flourished in India as far as 2500 years back. The Lichhavis elected an administrator and representatives to rule them.

In ancient India, the principles of democracy were also rooted in the Vedas. In both the Rig Veda and the Atharva Veda, the Sabha and Samiti are mentioned which state that a decision was reached after a discussion with the monarch, ministers, and scholars. According to Buddhist literature in Pali and Hindu religious texts in Sanskrit, republican government was nearly universal. The texts like Kautilya’s Arthashastra during the reign of the Mauryas and the inscriptions in Uttarameur temples of kingdoms of Cholas and Pandayas codified the principles of democratic participation. Inscriptions on these stones describe a public representative’s disqualification to run for office during that time. If a public official failed to disclose his assets, he or his immediate family could not run for office. Such historical examples thus emphasise on democracy being an integral part of India’s civilizational ethos.

Suggested Sub Themes for Book Proposals on theme Democracy (Institutions, Events, People, and Constitutional Values):

  • History of Democracy in India
  • Democracy and Constitutional Amendments
  • Democracy and Constituent Assembly Debates
  • Democracy and the electoral process in India
  • Federalism and Democracy
  • Centre-State Relations
  • Democracy and Social Justice
  • Democracy and Empowerment of Youth/Women/ Marginal Communities
  • Education and Democracy
  • Democracy and Culture
  • Democracy and Nationalism
  • Democracy and International Relations

The above sub-themes are only indicative in nature and the contestants are free to devise their topics as per the framework given in this scheme document.

Proposal

This proposal of mentorship of young authors is in tune with PM’s vision of Global Citizen that needs to be launched to train young and budding authors up to the age of 30 years in order to promote reading, writing and book culture in the country, and project India and Indian writings globally.

To comprehensively understand the concept of evolution of democracy and its trajectory in India it needs to be studied under various subheadings like constitution, women, youth, religion, history, human rights, education, nationalism, culture etc. which would be the primary aim of the PM-YUVA 2.0 mentorship Scheme.

IMPLEMENTATION & EXECUTION: The National Book Trust, India (under BP Division, Ministry of Education, GOI) as the Implementing Agency will ensure phase-wise execution of the Scheme under well-
defined stages of mentorship

SELECTION PROCEDURE OF YOUNG AUTHORS

A total of 75 authors will be selected through an All India Contest to be conducted through https://www.nbtindia.gov.in/

  • The selection will be made by a Committee to be constituted by NBT-India.
  • The Scheme will be launched on 2nd October 2022.
  • The Contest Period will be from 2nd October – 30th November 2022.
  • The contestants will be asked to submit a Book proposal of 10,000 words. Therefore, division as per the following :
  1. Synopsis: 2000-3000 words
  2. Chapter: Plan Yes
  3. Two-three sample chapters: 2000-3000 words
  4. Bibliography and References: Yes

The names of selected authors will be announced in the last week of February 2023
The Mentorship duration would be from March 2023 – August 2023
The Publication of the first set of books will commence from October 2023

Guidelines

Applicants who had qualified for the PM-YUVA scheme 2021-22 (final result only) are not eligible for PM-YUVA 2.0 scheme 2022-23.
Contestants should not have any personal, professional, or academic obligations that interfere with the mentorship schedule during the PM-YUVA 2.0.

  • The maximum age of the contestant should be exactly 30 years or below as on 2nd October 2022.
  • The submissions of the manuscript will be accepted through MyGov only till 11:59 PM on 30th November 2022.
  • The genre of the entry of PM-YUVA 2.0 scheme should be Non-Fiction only.
  • The change of topic of the Book Proposal will not be allowed after submission.
  • There should be only ONE entry per person.

Mentorship Schedule: 6 months

  • The National Book Trust, India will organise a Two-Week Writers’ Online Programme for the selected candidates.
  • During which the young authors will be trained by two eminent authors/mentors from NBT-India’s panel of accomplished authors and writers.
  • In addition, eminent authors/mentors under NBT-India’s Advisory Panel and other eminent authors from various languages will mentor and guide them on how to exercise their literary skills.
  • The eco-system of publishing–how content is created, authors are mentored, the editorial processes that take place, literary agents spot creative talent would be an integral aspect of the programme.
  • The authors will get to expand their understanding and hone their skills through interaction at various international events such as Literary Festivals, Book Fairs, Virtual Book Fair, Cultural Exchange Programmes, etc

Disbursement of Scholarships

  • At the end of training and mentorship a consolidated scholarship of Rs. 50,000 per month for a period of six months (50,000 x 6 = Rs. 3 Lakh) per author will be paid under the Mentorship Scheme
  • A royalty of 10% will be payable to the authors on successful publications of their books at the end of the Mentorship Program
  • The books thus published under the scheme may be translated into other Indian languages ensuring the exchange of culture and literature between different states of India and thereby promoting Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat
  • They will also be given a platform to promote their books and also to propagate the Reading and Writing culture on a national scale

OUTCOME OF THE SCHEME

This scheme will ensure creation of a pool of authors in Indian languages as well as English who are ready to express themselves and project India on any international platform, as well as it will help in projecting Indian culture and literature globally

It will make sure to bring reading and authorship as a preferred profession at par with other job options, making the youth of India take reading and knowledge as an integral part of their grooming up years. In addition, it will bring a positive psychological push to the young minds given the impact and effect of the recent pandemic on
mental health of the youth

India being the third largest publisher of books in the world, this scheme will give a boost to the Indian publishing industry, by bringing in new generation of authors writing for national and international audience.

This programme will thereby be in tune with PM’s vision of Global Citizen and Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat and establish India as a Vishwa Guru.

Remember This

  • Entry can send through MyGov only
  • Only one entry per contestant is allowed
  • You will receive an automated acknowledgment email

you can write in English and also in any of the following languages as listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India: (1) Assamese, (2) Bengali, (3) Gujarati, (4) Hindi, (5) Kannada, (6) Kashmiri, (7) Konkani, (8) Malayalam, (9) Manipuri, (10) Marathi, (11) Nepali, (12) Oriya, (13) Punjabi, (14) Sanskrit, (15) Sindhi, (16) Tamil, (17) Telugu, (18) Urdu, (19) Bodo, (20) Santali, (21) Maithili and (22) Dogri.

Contact

nbtyuva2@gmail.com

http://www.nbtindia.gov.inhttp://www.mygov.in

IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS:

1. Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India – 011-26121830
2. Shri Kumar Vikram, Editor & Project Head, PM-YUVA Mentorship
Scheme – +91-9871145755, 011-26707759
3. PM-YUVA Helpline numbers – 8800409359, 8800409846

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