Context: 

Recently, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Book Trust (NBT) of India launched the third edition of the Prime Minister’s Young Authors Mentorship Scheme 3.0 (YUVA) Scheme.

PM-YUVA 3.0

The Themes of PM-YUVA 3.0 are: 

• Contribution of Indian Diaspora in Nation Building; 
• Indian Knowledge System; and 
• Makers of Modern India (1950-2025).

Scheme will develop a stream of writers who can write on various facets of India encompassing the past, present and future.

YUVA 3.0 builds upon the success of its predecessors, YUVA 1.0 and YUVA 2.0, continuing the government's commitment to fostering literary talent and promoting reading, writing, and book culture in India.

The scheme aims to nurture young writers under 30 years of age, providing them with mentorship and exposure to hone their creative writing skills.

The National Book Trust, India, under the Ministry of Education as the Implementing Agency, will ensure phase-wise execution of the Scheme under well-defined stages of mentorship.

Selection Process and Mentorship:

• The scheme invites applications from aspiring writers through MyGov India’s online portal and then shortlists 50 young authors.
• The National Book Trust (NBT) will constitute the selection committee.
• Applicants are required to submit a book proposal of 10,000 words, which is then reviewed by a panel.
• The shortlisted candidates undergo a multi-stage selection process before the final selection.
• Selected authors receive a mentorship program and financial assistance of ₹50,000 per month six months.
• Under the mentorship, a National Camp will be held for the PM-YUVA 3.0 Authors during the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026. 
• Selected authors get the opportunity to present their work at literary festivals and international forums.

YUVA Scheme 2.0

• It was Launched in October 2022, YUVA 2.0 with a focus on ‘Democracy (Institutions, Events, People, and Constitutional Values)’ as its core theme. 
• 75 authors were selected through a competitive process
• The Union Minister for Education launched 41 new books under the PM YUVA 2.0 scheme at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2025 in February.

YUVA Scheme 1.0

• It was the inaugural edition, of the scheme launched in May 2021 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence. 
• The theme was the National Movement of India with a focus on Unsung Heroes.
• The scheme aimed to empower young authors and provide them a platform to express their perspectives on India’s history and contemporary narratives.

Significance of the scheme:

• The YUVA scheme, in its three editions, has played a crucial role in nurturing young literary talent in India. 
• As the program continues to evolve, it reinforces India’s commitment to promoting creative expression, multilingual literary heritage, and a culture of reading and writing among the youth. 
• The impact of the scheme is evident in the success stories of young authors whose voices have been amplified at both national and international levels.