Apply for Peyjal Gatha National Water Stories and Water Ideas Challenge (India)

Deadline: 08-Dec-2026

Peyjal Gatha is a proposed national competition inviting students in Classes VIII–XII across India to document and share stories, traditional knowledge, local water wisdom, and practical ideas related to drinking water and water security. The competition aims to preserve community knowledge, highlight the importance of local water bodies, and encourage students to develop youth-led ideas for water conservation and sustainable drinking water sources.

About the Peyjal Gatha Competition

Peyjal Gatha is designed to engage school students in documenting authentic experiences, traditional practices, and innovative approaches related to drinking water. The initiative seeks to create a curated collection of student-generated stories and ideas that can contribute to educational activities and public awareness about drinking water and water conservation.

The competition focuses on:

- Drinking water stories from individuals and communities. - Traditional water wisdom and practices. - Practical and low-cost water management ideas. - Local water bodies and their importance for drinking water. - Water conservation and source sustainability. - Youth-led solutions for water security. What Are the Competition Categories? Peyjal Gatha features four categories through which students can document and present their ideas and experiences. Personal or Community Drinking Water Stories Students can document authentic stories connected to drinking water in their families or communities. Entries should highlight the importance of drinking water and its impact on people’s lives and communities. Traditional Water Wisdom Students can document traditional knowledge, practices, and methods related to water. This category provides an opportunity to preserve local water wisdom and share practices that have been passed down through communities. Practical Low-Cost Water Management Ideas Students can present practical and affordable ideas for improving water management. The ideas should demonstrate how communities can address drinking water challenges, conserve water, or support the sustainability of water sources. Local Water Bodies and Their Relevance to Drinking Water Students can study and document local water bodies and explain their importance for drinking water. Entries may focus on the role of local water sources and their connection with community water needs. Who Can Participate? The competition is open to students studying in Classes VIII–XII in schools across India. Eligible students must be enrolled in schools recognized by: - State or Union Territory Boards. - Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). - Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS). - Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS). - National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). - Other eligible school systems in India. Participants are grouped according to their class level. Entries are assessed according to age-appropriate expectations and the analytical depth demonstrated by the students. What Is the Purpose of Peyjal Gatha? The proposed competition aims to encourage young people to understand and document drinking water issues within their communities.

The initiative seeks to:

- Preserve traditional water knowledge. - Document authentic drinking water experiences. - Highlight the importance of local water bodies. - Encourage practical water management solutions. - Promote water conservation and source sustainability. - Create a repository of student-generated content. - Increase educational and public awareness about drinking water. - Encourage youth participation in addressing water security challenges. A significant focus of the competition is expected to remain on drinking water and its importance to communities. What Recognition Will Students Receive? Shortlisted students will receive a Certificate of National Recognition in recognition of their contributions to the competition. The recognition is intended to acknowledge students who contribute meaningful stories, knowledge, documentation, or ideas related to drinking water. What Are the Submission Requirements? Students must ensure that their submissions meet the competition’s documentation requirements.

Entries must be:

- Original. - Unpublished. - Submitted in PDF format. - Submitted exclusively through the MyGov website. - Focused significantly on drinking water and its relevance to communities. - Prepared according to the competition’s ethical and documentation guidelines. Only one entry per participant is allowed. How Will Entries Be Evaluated? Submissions will be evaluated by an Expert Committee. The assessment will consider factors such as: - Originality. - Relevance to drinking water. - Overall quality. - Value of local knowledge. - Ethical documentation. - Age-appropriate expectations. - Analytical depth. Students are therefore encouraged to present authentic, relevant, and well-documented material connected to drinking water. Why Is Peyjal Gatha Important for Students? Peyjal Gatha provides students with an opportunity to explore water-related issues within their own communities. By documenting local experiences and traditional knowledge, students can contribute to preserving information that may otherwise be overlooked. The competition also encourages students to think about practical solutions for water conservation and sustainable drinking water sources. The focus on local water bodies, community stories, traditional practices, and low-cost solutions allows students to connect their learning with real-world water challenges. Key Facts About Peyjal Gatha

- Competition: Peyjal Gatha

- Level: National

- Eligible students: Classes VIII–XII

- Geographic eligibility: Students across India

- Eligible schools: Schools recognized by State/UT Boards, CBSE, KVS, NVS, NIOS, and other eligible school systems

- Main theme: Drinking water

- Categories: Drinking water stories, traditional water wisdom, low-cost water management ideas, and local water bodies

- Recognition: Certificate of Na