Gujarat launches state-wide cultural elocution competition for youth

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has launched the Gujarat Cultural Elocution Competition-2026, aimed at promoting cultural and moral values among youth while developing their public-speaking, critical-thinking, leadership and self-confidence skills.
According to information, the state-wide competition is being organised jointly by the Higher Education Department and the Save Culture Save India Foundation.At the launch, Patel highlighted the role of youth in achieving the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. He said India’s demographic dividend needs to be nurtured through knowledge, good character, humility, wisdom, values and discipline.

મારા વહાલા યુવા સાથીઓ,

આજે ગાંધીનગરથી આપણા રાજ્યના યુવાઓ માટે એક અનોખી સ્પર્ધાનો પ્રારંભ કરાવ્યો છે- 'ગુજરાત સાંસ્કૃતિક વક્તૃત્વ સ્પર્ધા-2026'.

આ સ્પર્ધા અંતર્ગત આગામી દિવસોમાં રાજ્યની વિવિધ કોલેજો અને યુનિવર્સિટીઓના હજારો વિદ્યાર્થીઓ ભાગ લેશે અને ભારતીય સંસ્કૃતિ અને વિકાસના… pic.twitter.com/rOOYlP6ZgM

— Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) September 28, 2026

The Chief Minister said the National Education Policy emphasises value-based education and noted that the state government is making changes to the curriculum to preserve cultural values among children and youth. He also stressed the importance of sports, health and the goal of a ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’, urging young people to develop positive thinking and self-confidence.The competition will be conducted in four stages. At the classroom level, students will take part in a three-minute screening round, with three students selected from each class. All participants will receive certificates.
At the college level, students from government, aided and self-financed colleges and universities across Gujarat will compete. Students born on or after January 1, 2000, will be eligible. One student from each faculty will qualify for the zonal round. The college-level winner will receive Rs 1,100, along with the ‘Best Speaker of College’ trophy and certificate.The zonal competition will be held across 11 zones, with 20 per cent of participants qualifying for the state-level final. Each state-level qualifier 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 featuring speeches and discussions on designated topics. 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 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 said the responsibility of preserving and strengthening India’s cultural heritage rests with the youth. He said the competition would provide students an opportunity to express their views, build self-confidence and contribute to their overall development.Vaja also highlighted the National Education Policy’s emphasis on mother-tongue education, saying it helps students remain connected with their roots and heritage while encouraging broad-minded thinking in line with the vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

યુવાશક્તિમાં સંસ્કાર, વિચાર અને આત્મવિશ્વાસનું સિંચન…

માનનીય મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી @Bhupendrapbjp સાહેબે ગાંધીનગર ખાતેથી વર્ચ્યુઅલ માધ્યમથી “ગુજરાત સાંસ્કૃતિક વક્તૃત્વ સ્પર્ધા-2026”નો પ્રારંભ કરાવ્યો.

રાજ્ય સરકારના ઉચ્ચ શિક્ષણ વિભાગ અને સેવ કલ્ચર-સેવ ભારત ફાઉન્ડેશનના સંયુક્ત… pic.twitter.com/y1FPOBuPbx

— Dr Pradyuman Vaja (@drpradyumanvaja) September 28, 2026

Minister of State for Education Trikambhai Chhanga welcomed the participants and expressed confidence that the initiative would help nurture cultural values among Gujarat’s youth.
Uday Mahurkar, founder of the Save Culture Save India Foundation and former RTI Commissioner, described the initiative as an effort towards nation-building amid rapid modernisation. He said the foundation would continue to expand such initiatives to encourage young people to focus on cultural values and character-building.

????️ Gujarat Cultural Elocution Competition 2026 ????️

A phenomenal initiative to empower our youth, strengthen our cultural roots, and inspire the leaders of tomorrow in the face of the challenge faced by the society from perverted content coming on AV platforms.

Today, alongside… https://t.co/NbbCM3HpNc

— Uday Mahurkar (@UdayMahurkar) September 28, 2026

Yuva Jainacharya Maharshi Vijayji Maharaj, Pujya Brahmavihari Swamiji and Pujya Shri Rameshbhai Oza also conveyed their blessings and best wishes for the success of the competition.Online and offline seminars and training programmes are being conducted at universities and colleges across Gujarat to prepare participants. The sessions provide guidance on public speaking, leadership, cultural and moral values, and the concept of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

(State Correspondent)