Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has launched the Gujarat Cultural Elocution Competition-2026, describing it as a platform to promote cultural and moral values among youth, develop leadership and public-speaking skills, and encourage their participation in nation-building.
According to the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the competition is being organised across the state through a joint initiative of the State Government’s Higher Education Department and the Save Culture Save India Foundation.
Education Minister Pradyuman Vaja, Minister of State for Education Trikambhai Chhanga, and founder of the Save Culture Save India Foundation and former RTI Commissioner Uday Mahurkar were also present at the launch.
Patel highlighted the role of young people in realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. He said the country’s demographic dividend needs to be nurtured with knowledge, good character, humility, wisdom, values and discipline.
The Chief Minister said the National Education Policy also emphasises value-based education. He added that the state government was introducing changes in the curriculum to preserve cultural values among children and youth and help keep them away from addiction.
Referring to the importance of sports, health and the goal of a ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’, Patel urged young people to develop positive thinking and self-confidence through initiatives such as the elocution competition.
The Gujarat Cultural Elocution Competition aims to develop public-speaking, critical-thinking, self-confidence and leadership skills while promoting cultural and moral values among students.
As part of the initiative, online and offline seminars and training programmes have been organised at universities and colleges across the state. Students will receive guidance on public speaking, leadership, cultural and moral values, and the concept of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The competition will be conducted in four stages.
At the classroom level, students will participate in a three-minute screening round, with three students selected from each class. All participating students will receive certificates.
At the college level, selected students will compete among government, aided and self-financed colleges and universities across Gujarat. Students born on or after January 1, 2000, will be eligible to participate.
One student from each faculty will be selected for the zonal round. The first-place winner at the college level will receive a cash prize of Rs 1,100, along with the ‘Best Speaker of College’ trophy and certificate.
The zonal-level competition will be conducted across 11 zones, with 20 per cent of participants qualifying for the state-level final. Each student selected for the state level will receive Rs 11,000, along with the ‘Cultural Speaker of Gujarat’ trophy and certificate.
The state-level final will be organised as a camp. Selected students will deliver speeches on designated topics and participate in discussions. The first, second and third prize winners will receive Rs 1 lakh, Rs 71,000 and Rs 51,000, respectively, along with the ‘Best Cultural Speaker of Gujarat’ trophy and certificate.
Key topics for the competition include the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and Swachh Cyber Bharat Mission; ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’; ‘Culture and Values: The Foundation of a Nation’s Existence’; ‘The Bitter Fruits of Anger’; and ‘Duties as an Indian Citizen: Article 51(A) of the Constitution’.
Education Minister Pradyuman Vaja extended his best wishes to the participants and said the responsibility of preserving and strengthening India’s cultural heritage rests with the youth.
He said the competition would provide young people with an opportunity to express their views and develop self-confidence, contributing to their overall development.
Highlighting the emphasis on mother-tongue education under the National Education Policy, Vaja said education in one’s mother tongue helps students remain connected with their roots and heritage. He added that this connection, combined with broad-minded thinking, can contribute to the vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
Minister of State for Education Trikambhai Chhanga welcomed the participants and expressed confidence that the competition would become a platform for nurturing cultural values among the state’s youth.
Uday Mahurkar described the initiative to promote cultural values among the younger generation amid rapid modernisation as an effort towards nation-building. He said the Save Culture Save India Foundation would continue to expand such initiatives and encourage youth to focus on cultural values and character-building.
Yuva Jainacharya Maharshi Vijayji Maharaj, Pujya Brahmavihari Swamiji and Pujya Shri Rameshbhai Oza conveyed their blessings and best wishes for the success of the competition. (ANI)
