My City's Eye Witness
Nagrika's Annual Youth Wrting Contest • 7th Edition
Every city has witnesses that have seen it evolve.
Tell the story of your city’s evolution from the perspective of a non-human witness in a public space, that has silently witnessed the city change over time.
DEADLINE — 12th JULY 2026, 11:59 PM IST | OPEN TO AGES 18–30 | ENGLISH & HINDI
ABOUT
Every year, we ask young Indians one big question about the cities they live in. Essays, letters, stories — we want your honest, unfiltered voice.
Ideas to Explore in Your Entry
Witness
Every city has witnesses that have seen it evolve.
Tell the story of your city’s evolution from the perspective of a non-human witness in a public space, that has silently witnessed the city change over time.
What has this witness seen over the years? How has the city changed around it? What has disappeared, what has arrived, and what has remained? What does this witness remember about people, streets, seasons, festivals, transport, buildings, markets, rivers, public spaces, or everyday life?
Be as specific and local as possible—mention landmarks, street names, seasonal events, conversations, or smells and sounds that make your city unique. Anyone who reads your entry should be able to truly feel and see your city .
The entry may be fictional, reflective, historical, humorous, or deeply personal. But it must be rooted in a real city and a real witness.
Through the voice of this witness, we invite you to bring alive the story of your city as a lived journey across time.
Witness
CURRENT THEME
WHY PARTICIPATE
Win big. Get published. Make your voice heard.
Prizes are awarded separately for English and Hindi entries — giving you double the chances to win.
All Winners also recieve
• Published on the Nagrika Website
• Promoted across Nagrika's social media
• Certificate of Excellence
• Exclusive Nagrika Goodies
• Opportunity to intern with Nagrika
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
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You are between 18 and 30 years old as of 12th July 2026
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You are a resident of India
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You have a valid Indian bank account and PAN card
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Your entry is original and unpublished
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You are writing in English or Hindi (prose only)
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
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By submitting, you grant Nāgrika non-exclusive rights to publish your work online or in print.
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All entries must be the original work of the author. Use of AI writing tools is not allowed.
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The decision of the jury is final. Names are anonymised during evaluation.
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Nāgrika team members and their immediate families are not eligible for prizes.
STEPS TO SUBMIT
Step 1 Read the guidelines
Go through the participation terms, eligibility criteria, theme details and word count requirements carefully before you begin writing.
Step 2 Write your entry
Prepare your entry in a Word document (.doc/.docx) or PDF. Make sure it is between 1,000 and 3,000 words and reflects the theme ‘My city’s eye witness’
Step 3 Click “Submit Your Entry”
Click on the ‘Submit your entry’ button on this page that leads you to the official Google Form for submission
Step 4 Fill in your details
Complete the form with your name, date of birth, city, language, and upload your entry file. You can also paste your entry text directly.
Step 5 Submit before the deadlineHit submit before 12th July 2026, 11:59 PM IST. Late submissions will not be accepted.
15K
FIRST PRIZE (INR)
10K
SECOND PRIZE (INR)
ENTRY RULES
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Prose only — essays, stories, letters, biographies (1,000–3,000 words)
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Only one entry per participant is allowed
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Submit via the official Google Form as .doc, .docx or PDF (max 10 MB)
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AI-generated content (ChatGPT etc.) is not allowed
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Previous main prize winners of the Nāgrika Writing Contest are not eligible to win a prize again. Previous special mention awardees may apply.
05K
THIRD PRIZE (INR)
Click the button below to submit your entry
If you have questions, write to us at connect@nagrika.org with a subject line "Writing Contest 2026"
