The Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, has launched PM-YUVA 3.0 (Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors), an initiative aimed at nurturing budding authors under the age of 30. This author mentorship programme is designed to promote a culture of reading and writing, while also projecting Indian literature on the global stage. The third edition follows the success of its predecessors, which saw large-scale participation from young writers in 22 Indian languages and English.
Aligned with the vision of the Prime Minister to inspire the youth in appreciating India’s rich cultural heritage, PM-YUVA 3.0 will focus on three key themes:
- Contribution of Indian Diaspora in Nation Building
- Indian Knowledge System
- Makers of Modern India (1950-2025)
Under the scheme, 50 young authors will be selected through an all-India contest hosted on MyGov.in from March 11, 2025, to April 10, 2025. The selection process is structured as follows:
- 10 authors will explore the contribution of the Indian diaspora in national development.
- 20 authors will delve into the Indian Knowledge System.
- 20 authors will document the contributions of visionaries who shaped modern India between 1950 and 2025.
The National Book Trust (NBT), India, is the implementing agency responsible for executing the scheme in a structured phase-wise manner. The selected authors will undergo mentorship from June 30 to December 30, 2025, under the guidance of eminent writers. Additionally, they will participate in literary festivals and a National Camp during the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026.
Books authored under PM-YUVA 3.0 will be published by NBT, India, and translated into multiple Indian languages to foster literary and cultural exchange under the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative. This effort aims to cultivate a generation of writers who can articulate the contributions of the Indian diaspora, preserve indigenous knowledge, and document India’s growth across education, science, economy, and social empowerment.
The final list of selected authors will be announced between May and June 2025, after a thorough evaluation of submissions in April. This initiative is expected to encourage young voices to engage in intellectual discourse and contribute to India’s literary and cultural heritage.
