By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
The Rekha Gupta government on Wednesday launched the ‘Talent Hunt Scheme – Hauslon Ki Udaan 2026-27’, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing hidden talent among Delhi’s youth through a city-wide competition spanning 70 Assembly constituencies.
Announcing the scheme at CM Jan Seva Sadan, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative was “much more than a competition” and would provide young people with a national platform to showcase their creativity, confidence and skills. The scheme, to be implemented by the Department of Art, Culture and Languages, carries a budget allocation of ₹10 crore and is expected to attract over 25,000 participants.
Free online registrations for youth aged 16 to 35 began on Wednesday through the official portal. The competition will be conducted across seven categories, including singing, dance, fine and digital art, sculpture and pottery, music composition, instrumental music, and acting and theatre.
The selection process will unfold in four stages — online screening, cluster-level contests, zonal competitions and a state-level grand finale scheduled for August. While 24,500 participants are expected to advance beyond the first stage, only 28 finalists will compete in the finale.
Winners will receive cash prizes ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh, along with certificates, shields and medals. The evaluation process will include 25 per cent weightage through public online voting and 75 per cent through assessment by an expert jury.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative aimed to create an inclusive platform for youth from all social and economic backgrounds while promoting self-reliance and cultural expression. She added that selected participants could also be associated with future social campaigns as brand ambassadors.
Delhi Art, Culture and Languages Minister Kapil Mishra described the programme as a major step towards making Delhi the “Creative Capital” and “Youth Capital” of New India, adding that the initiative would help young artists gain recognition and opportunities on a larger stage.
