Emerging Talent 2026 — Rules & Regulations

Rachnakaar Emerging Talent 2026 is a national talent competition created to discover, encourage and recognise young talent in music, dance, theatre and performance, literature, Sanskrit and Indian heritage, and visual arts.

The competition consists of:

The competition is conducted in age groups so that participants compete against others within an appropriate age bracket.

The competition is open to Indian participants aged 6 to 21 years, subject to the age-group rules below.

Age groups

Age determination

For the purpose of Rachnakaar Emerging Talent 2026, the participant’s age shall be determined as on 1 January 2026.

The participant/guardian must provide accurate date-of-birth information and, where requested, valid age proof.

Participants below 18 years

Registration and participation must be authorised by a parent or lawful guardian. The parent/lawful guardian confirms that:

• the participant is permitted to take part;
• the information submitted is accurate;
• the participant’s work/performance has been submitted with proper permission;
• the participant understands and accepts the competition rules to the extent appropriate for their age;
• Rachnakaar may contact the parent/guardian regarding the competition;
• the parent/guardian accepts the provisions relating to evaluation, shortlisting, competition, publicity, photography/video recording, awards and use of submitted material as set out in these rules.

Teacher / Mentor

A teacher, coach, guru or mentor may assist the participant with preparation and submission.

For participants aged 18–21, the participant may provide consent personally.

Participants may enter ONE competition category/discipline per entry, unless Rachnakaar expressly announces otherwise.

A. Music

Vocal. Participants may perform Indian Classical, Semi-Classical, Bhajan / Devotional, or Sugam Sangeet / Light Music.

Language: participants may sing in Hindi or any Indian language. For a song in a language that may not be understood by the jury, the participant may be required to provide the lyrics in written form together with a Hindi or English transliteration/translation for reference.

Instrumental. Indian musical instruments, including but not limited to:

• Tabla
• Sitar
• Flute
• Harmonium
• Violin
• Sarod
• Santoor
• Mridangam
• Other recognised Indian classical/traditional instruments

The detailed submission requirements for each instrument may be specified separately.

B. Dance

Classical Dance. Recognised Indian classical forms, including Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Odissi. Additional recognised classical forms may be accepted subject to the competition guidelines.

Folk Dance. For 2026, the principal folk-dance forms include:

• Bhangra
• Gidda
• Garba
• Dandiya Raas
• Ghoomar

Rachnakaar may permit other recognised Indian folk traditions where appropriate, subject to prior approval and available competition arrangements.

C. Theatre & Performance

Participants may enter Acting, Monologue, Skit / Play, or Mime.

Where a skit or play involves more than one performer, the entry shall be treated as a group performance, subject to the group-participation rules announced by Rachnakaar. The participant or group must have the necessary permission/rights to perform any third-party script, dialogue, music or material used.

D. Literature

Participants may enter Poetry, Short Story, or Recitation.

For poetry and short-story entries, the submitted work must be the participant’s original work, unless the competition specifically permits an adaptation or other format. Recitation may involve a recognised literary work, subject to the applicable copyright and attribution requirements.

E. Sanskrit & Indian Heritage

Participants may enter Shloka Recitation, Bhagavad Gita Recitation, or Sanskrit Speech.

The competition may also include approved presentations relating to Indian cultural and traditional knowledge where specifically announced. Accuracy of pronunciation, understanding, expression and presentation may be considered where relevant to the particular discipline.

F. Visual Arts

Participants may enter Drawing, Painting, or Indian Traditional Art.

Indian Traditional Art may include recognised traditional forms such as Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Gond, Kalamkari, Tanjore/Thanjavur painting and similar Indian traditions. Specific permitted formats, materials and submission requirements will be announced in the detailed category guidelines.

Rachnakaar Emerging Talent is intended to represent India’s cultural diversity. Therefore, participants are not restricted to Hindi.

For eligible categories, participants may use:

• Hindi
• English where permitted by the category
• Any recognised Indian language appropriate to the performance/work.

For vocal, literature, recitation, Sanskrit and theatre entries where the jury may require assistance in understanding the content, Rachnakaar may request the original text plus a Hindi or English transliteration/translation.

All participants must register through the official Rachnakaar website: www.rachnakaar.org or www.rachnakaar.com.

The participant must:

1. Complete the registration form.
2. Select the correct age group.
3. Select the competition category.
4. Provide the required participant information.
5. Upload/submit the required work or performance.
6. Provide supporting information wherever requested.
7. Complete the required consent and declaration.
8. Submit the entry before the announced closing date.

An incomplete form or incomplete submission may be rejected or returned for correction at Rachnakaar’s discretion.

The submitted material must correspond to the category selected.

Exact file formats, maximum file size, duration and technical specifications shall be published on the registration page.

Participants must not submit work that unlawfully copies another person’s work.

Creative categories

For original literary and visual-art entries, the participant must confirm that the work is their own creation.

Performances

A participant may perform an existing song, classical composition, traditional composition, literary work or recognised cultural work where permitted by the category. However, the participant must not falsely claim another person’s work as their own.

Where third-party copyrighted material is used, the participant/guardian is responsible for ensuring that its use and submission do not violate applicable rights. The Copyright Act, 1957 recognises separate rights relating to performers, including performers’ rights in performances.

Entries must be suitable for a public cultural and educational competition. Entries must not contain:

• Obscene or sexually explicit material;
• Abusive or threatening content;
• Hate speech or content targeting a person or community;
• Content promoting violence or unlawful activity;
• Defamatory or knowingly false allegations against individuals or organisations;
• Material that infringes copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity or other rights;
• Any material that Rachnakaar reasonably considers inappropriate for the intended age group.

Rachnakaar may reject or disqualify an entry that violates these requirements.

Every eligible submission will undergo an initial evaluation by the designated Rachnakaar jury/evaluation panel. The evaluation may consider, depending on the category:

• Talent and skill
• Technical ability
• Creativity
• Originality
• Accuracy
• Expression
• Presentation
• Confidence
• Interpretation
• Cultural understanding where relevant
• Overall impact

Different criteria may carry different weightages for different categories. The detailed judging criteria may be published separately for each category.

Following the initial evaluation, Rachnakaar will shortlist participants for the final competition. Shortlisting will be based on the quality of eligible submissions and the decision of the designated jury/evaluation panel.

The number of shortlisted participants may vary according to the number of entries, quality of entries, category, age group and competition arrangements.

Rachnakaar is not required to shortlist a fixed number of participants if the jury determines that the required standard has not been met.

Shortlisted participants will be invited to participate in the Rachnakaar Emerging Talent Competition 2026.

The final competition may be conducted physically, virtually or through a combination of formats, as determined and announced by Rachnakaar. The format, venue, date, reporting time, performance duration, technical requirements and other instructions will be communicated to shortlisted participants.

A shortlisted participant who fails to appear, submit the required material, or comply with the final-round instructions may lose their place in the competition.

Participants will compete within their respective age group. The four age groups are 6–9, 10–13, 14–17 and 18–21.

Participants will not ordinarily compete directly against participants from another age group.

Where the competition format requires a combined presentation or special showcase, Rachnakaar may make appropriate arrangements without changing the participant’s official age-group classification.

The competition is open to participants of all genders.

Male and female participants will compete together within the relevant age group and discipline, unless Rachnakaar specifically announces a separate division for a particular category. For example, the Vocal category will not ordinarily be divided into separate male and female competitions.

Individual categories are intended for individual participants unless otherwise specified. Group performances may be permitted for categories such as Skit / Play, Theatre, Folk Dance and other specifically approved group formats.

For group entries:

• A designated group representative must complete the submission.
• All performers must satisfy the applicable eligibility requirements.
• Required consent must be obtained from every participant and, for minors, their parent/lawful guardian.
• The group may be required to provide the names and ages of all performers.
• Rachnakaar may prescribe maximum group size and other requirements.

Rachnakaar may separately determine how a group award or recognition is issued.

Multiple entries, multiple categories or additional submissions may be permitted only where Rachnakaar expressly announces such an option. Where multiple entries are permitted, each entry may require a separate registration or fee, if applicable.

Any applicable registration/participation fee shall be clearly displayed on the official registration page before submission.

Where a fee is applicable:

• Payment must be made through the authorised payment method.
• The participant should retain the payment confirmation.
• Fees, once paid, shall be governed by the refund/cancellation policy displayed at the time of registration.

The decision of the duly constituted Rachnakaar jury/evaluation panel shall be final for matters relating to artistic evaluation, scoring, shortlisting and winner selection, subject to correction of an established administrative or clerical error.

Participants may not demand disclosure of confidential jury deliberations or internal scoring discussions. Rachnakaar may, where appropriate, provide general judging criteria or score summaries without disclosing confidential deliberations.

A final winner shall be selected in the applicable discipline/category and age group, subject to the competition structure announced for 2026.

Rachnakaar may also announce Special Recognition, Jury Recognition, Commendation or other distinctions. Such recognitions are discretionary and do not create an entitlement for every participant.

The final winners will be formally honoured with the Rachnakaar Emerging Talent 2026 Award, presented at the Rachnakaar Annual Award Ceremony 2026 on 20 December 2026.

The award ceremony is the formal recognition event for the final winners of the Emerging Talent competition.

Rachnakaar may issue certificates according to the level of participation, shortlisting and achievement announced for the competition. The exact certificate categories and eligibility will be specified separately.

A certificate shall not be interpreted as a winner’s award unless expressly identified as such.

By accepting the competition consent, the participant/parent or lawful guardian acknowledges that Rachnakaar may photograph, record or document competition-related activities and the final award ceremony.

Subject to the consent provided and applicable law, Rachnakaar may use the participant’s:

• Name
• Age group
• Category
• Photograph
• Video/audio recording
• Submitted performance/work
• Award/achievement information

for legitimate competition, archival, educational, promotional and publicity purposes through Rachnakaar’s website, social media, publications, presentations and other official communication channels.

Participants must provide accurate information. Information may be collected for purposes including:

• Registration
• Age verification
• Eligibility
• Communication
• Evaluation
• Shortlisting
• Competition administration
• Award administration
• Certificates
• Event management

Rachnakaar shall publish an appropriate Privacy Policy/Data Notice alongside the registration form. Participants/parents/guardians should read that notice before providing consent.

Rachnakaar may disqualify an entry or participant if it discovers:

• False age or identity information;
• False claims regarding authorship;
• Plagiarism;
• Forged or manipulated documents;
• Unauthorised use of another person’s work;
• Submission in the wrong category through deliberate misrepresentation;
• Manipulation of voting, scoring or competition systems, where applicable;
• Unacceptable conduct towards participants, judges, organisers or staff;
• Violation of these rules.

Where disqualification occurs, Rachnakaar may withdraw any shortlist, title, certificate, award or recognition already granted.

Participants are responsible for ensuring that their submitted files open correctly, are audible/visible where applicable, meet the prescribed format, and are uploaded before the deadline.

Rachnakaar shall not be responsible for a participant’s failure to submit due to incorrect files, incomplete uploads, poor internet connectivity, incompatible formats or failure to follow technical instructions.

Where a genuine technical issue occurs on the Rachnakaar platform, Rachnakaar may provide a reasonable remedy at its discretion.

All registration, submission, correction, shortlisting and final-competition deadlines announced by Rachnakaar must be followed.

Rachnakaar may extend, modify or close a deadline where operational, technical, administrative or other circumstances require it. Any official change will be communicated through the official Rachnakaar website or authorised communication channels.

Rachnakaar reserves the right, where reasonably necessary, to:

• Modify the competition schedule;
• Change the competition format;
• Change the venue;
• Modify technical requirements;
• Merge or divide a discipline where required by participation levels;
• Change the number of shortlisted participants;
• Add or remove a special recognition;
• Postpone the competition or ceremony due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

Any material change will be communicated through official channels.

Rachnakaar shall not be responsible for failure or delay caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, government restrictions, public emergencies, technical failures, venue restrictions, security concerns or other unforeseen circumstances.

In such circumstances, Rachnakaar may reschedule, modify, postpone or cancel an activity where necessary.

Every eligible participant will receive the opportunity to submit an entry subject to these rules. However:

Selection is based on the competition’s eligibility requirements and jury decisions.

All official competition communication shall be made through the contact information provided during registration and/or through official Rachnakaar channels.

Participants/parents/guardians are responsible for providing a valid mobile number, email address and parent/guardian contact where applicable, and for checking competition communications regularly.

All participants, parents, guardians, teachers and mentors are expected to maintain respectful conduct. No participant, guardian, teacher or mentor may:

• Threaten or abuse judges or organisers;
• Attempt to influence jury decisions improperly;
• Harass another participant;
• Submit false complaints against another participant;
• Disrupt competition proceedings;
• Engage in discriminatory, abusive or unlawful behaviour.

Serious misconduct may result in disqualification.

Submission of the registration form and entry constitutes acceptance of the competition rules.

For participants below 18 years, acceptance must be completed by the parent/lawful guardian. Where a teacher, school, guru or mentor assists with participation, such assistance does not remove the requirement for the appropriate parental/lawful-guardian consent.

For participants aged 18–21, acceptance is provided by the participant.

By submitting this entry, I/we confirm that:

• The information provided is true and accurate.
• The participant satisfies the stated age and eligibility requirements.
• The submitted work/performance belongs to the stated participant or is being used lawfully for the permitted performance category.
• The participant has not knowingly infringed another person’s rights.
• I/we have read and understood the competition rules.
• I/we agree to abide by the decisions and instructions of Rachnakaar and its authorised jury/panel.
• I/we understand that submission does not guarantee shortlisting, selection or winning.
• I/we consent to the participant taking part in the competition.
• Where the participant is below 18 years, I/we provide the required parent/lawful-guardian consent.
• I/we understand and accept the provisions concerning competition records, photographs, audio/video recordings, publicity, certificates and awards as described in these rules and the applicable privacy notice.
• I/we understand that the final winner will be honoured with the Rachnakaar Emerging Talent 2026 Award at the Rachnakaar Annual Award Ceremony 2026 on 20 December 2026, subject to the final competition outcome.

Important

These rules should be read together with the official category-wise submission guidelines, privacy notice, consent form, fee/refund policy and final-round instructions published by Rachnakaar.

Rachnakaar reserves the right to interpret and administer these rules reasonably and in the interest of maintaining a fair, transparent and credible competition.