Young Authors Mentorship Scheme (YUVA) Scheme

Context:

This analysis is titled "Prime Minister's Young Authors Mentorship Scheme (YUVA) Scheme," under the Ministry of Education. It details the third edition of the YUVA scheme (YUVA 3.0), launched on March 11, 2025, by the Ministry of Education and National Book Trust (NBT), aimed at mentoring young writers under 30. Building on YUVA 1.0 and 2.0, it promotes literary talent and aligns with national goals like Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and NEP 2020.

1. Launch of YUVA 3.0: Initiated on March 11, 2025, by the Ministry of Education and NBT, targeting writers under 30 to foster creative writing and literary culture.
2. Themes of YUVA 3.0: Focuses on "Contribution of Indian Diaspora in Nation Building," "Indian Knowledge System," and "Makers of Modern India (1950-2025)" to highlight India’s past, present, and future.
3. Timeline:
4. • Contest: March 11 - April 10, 2025.
   • Proposal Evaluation: April 12 - May 12, 2025.
   • National Jury Meeting: May 20, 2025.
   • Results: May 31, 2025.
   • Mentorship: June 1 - November 1, 2025.
   • National Camp: New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 (January 10-18, 2026).
   • Book Publication: By March 31, 2026.
4. Selection Process:
5. • Applications via MyGov portal.
   • 50 authors shortlisted from 10,000-word book proposals.
   • Multi-stage evaluation by an NBT committee.
5. Mentorship Support:
6. • Six-month program with ₹50,000 monthly stipend.
   • Includes workshops, mentor interactions, and literary exposure.
   • Books published in multiple languages by NBT.
   • National Camp at World Book Fair 2026.
   • Opportunities at literary festivals and international forums.
6. YUVA Background: Aligns with NEP 2020’s focus on empowering youth (66% of India’s population) for leadership, launched first in May 2021 to groom literary ambassadors.
7. Significance:
8. • Promotes reading/writing culture per NEP 2020.
   • Builds a pool of authors across genres (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, research).
   • Produces print, audio, and e-books for wider reach.
   • Creates educational reference material.
   • Fosters a vibrant literary community.
8. YUVA 2.0 Overview:
9. • Launched October 2022 with theme "Democracy" (institutions, events, people, constitutional values).
   • Aimed to explore India’s democratic narrative.
9. YUVA 2.0 Implementation:
10. • 75 authors selected from 10,000-word proposals.
    • Mentorship included experts in constitutional studies and history.
    • Training in research, language, and storytelling.
10. YUVA 2.0 Outcomes:
11. • 41 books launched at World Book Fair 2025 (February).
    • Published in multiple Indian languages.
    • Authors gained recognition at national/international events.
    • Books included in academic/government libraries.
    • Facilitated interactions with policymakers and scholars.
11. YUVA 1.0 Overview:
12. • Launched May 2021 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
    • Theme: "National Movement of India" (unsung heroes, lesser-known facts, regional roles, new perspectives).
12. YUVA 1.0 Implementation:
13. • 75 authors selected from 5,000-word manuscripts.
    • Mentorship with historians and literary figures.
    • ₹50,000 monthly stipend for six months.
13. YUVA 1.0 Outcomes:
14. • Results announced December 25, 2021.
    • Books translated into multiple languages.
    • Enhanced India’s literary heritage.
    • Authors gained mainstream recognition.
    • 10% royalty paid by NBT on book sales.
14. Overall Impact: YUVA nurtures talent, promotes multilingual literature, and amplifies youth voices globally, supporting India’s cultural and literary renaissance.