My Culture My Story Contest 2026 by MyGov [100 Winners; Rewards Worth ₹50,000]: Submit by Nov 15

MyGov is inviting Indian citizens to document and share a unique cultural story from their village, district, community, region or heritage. One hundred selected participants will each receive a ₹500 Digi Haat Coupon, and their stories may be featured through MyGov’s digital platforms.

Click here to participate in the My Culture My Story Contest.

About MyGov

MyGov is the Government of India’s citizen-engagement platform. It enables people to participate in government campaigns, contests, discussions, quizzes, surveys and other public initiatives.

About the Contest

India’s cultural heritage exists not only in monuments and museums but also in local traditions, art forms, music, languages, festivals and everyday practices passed down across generations.

Through the My Culture My Story Contest, MyGov is inviting citizens to discover and document an authentic cultural story connected with their community, hometown, village, district, State or personal heritage.

The initiative aims to curate a digital collection titled:

“100 Stories. 100 Places. 100 Voices.”

The selected submissions will collectively showcase India’s cultural diversity through the perspectives of its citizens.

Eligibility Criteria

The contest is open to Indian citizens.

The official notification does not prescribe an age limit, educational qualification or professional-experience requirement.

There is no entry fee for participating in the contest.

Contest Themes

Participants may submit a cultural story under any one of the following themes:

1. Traditional Art or Craft

Local handicrafts, regional painting styles, weaving, pottery, embroidery, sculpture and other traditional creative practices.

2. Folk Song, Dance or Music

Folk songs, traditional instruments, regional dances, musical traditions and community performances.

3. Festival or Tradition

Unique festivals, rituals, celebrations and customs practised within a community or region.

4. Historical or Heritage Site

Lesser-known monuments, ancient structures, historical places and local heritage locations.

5. Local Cultural Personality

An artist, musician, craftsperson, storyteller, performer or cultural figure associated with a community or region.

6. Traditional Practice

Traditional knowledge, food practices, architecture, agriculture, healing methods and other inherited practices.

7. Language or Dialect

Local languages, dialects, scripts, expressions, words and oral traditions.

8. Lesser-known Cultural Story

A local legend, cultural narrative, forgotten practice or community story that deserves wider recognition.

What Can You Submit?

Participants may present their stories through formats such as:

Short video or reel: 30–60 seconds
Illustrated story: 720p
Digital storytelling
Short documentary-style video: Up to 60 seconds
Creative visual narrative: 30–60 seconds

Submissions may be created in any language.

The public contest page does not prescribe a particular video file format, maximum file size, orientation or subtitle requirement. Participants should check the MyGov upload section before preparing the final submission.

Submission Guidelines

The story must be original and created by the participant.
It should be authentic and culturally relevant.
Participants should provide accurate cultural information and meaningful context.
The content must not plagiarise or infringe any third-party copyright or intellectual-property right.
Offensive, inappropriate, defamatory, obscene or harmful content will be disqualified.
Content must not promote illegal, unsafe or harmful activities.
An appropriate disclaimer should be included if the submission addresses sensitive subjects.
The participant’s MyGov profile should be complete and accurate.
An entry cannot be withdrawn after submission.

The official rules do not specify a maximum number of entries or a separate policy concerning AI-generated content. Participants should nevertheless ensure that the submitted story is their own original creation.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on:

Cultural relevance and authenticity: Whether the entry genuinely represents a cultural practice, place, personality, language or story.
Storytelling and narrative quality: Whether the story communicates its cultural significance in an engaging manner.
Creativity and originality: Whether the cultural subject is presented through a fresh and imaginative approach.
Research and cultural insight: Whether the submission demonstrates meaningful knowledge and context.
Presentation and engagement: Whether the content is visually or audiovisually appealing, understandable and engaging.

Rewards

The top 100 winners will each receive:

₹500 Digi Haat Coupon

The total announced value of the coupons is ₹50,000.

Selected stories may also receive wider digital visibility through MyGov’s platforms, subject to applicable editorial and content guidelines.

The official announcement describes the reward as a coupon, not a cash prize.

100 Stories of India

The curated collection will aim to represent cultural diversity across:

States and Union Territories
Districts and regions
Languages and dialects
Arts and crafts
Folk traditions
Festivals and community practices
Historical and heritage sites
Local cultural personalities
Lesser-known cultural narratives

The selected entries will form a digital showcase of India’s heritage as observed and narrated by its citizens.

Rights Over Submitted Content

By submitting an entry, participants allow MyGov to use it for promotional purposes with due credit to the creator.

The permission is granted on a royalty-free basis. Participants remain responsible for ensuring that their entries do not infringe anyone else’s copyright or intellectual-property rights.