THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, JANUARY 15, 2026
Reaffirming the timeless relevance of
handwritten communication, India Post has invited school students across the
country to participate in the UPU International Letter Writing Competition
2026, a prestigious annual global initiative of the Universal Postal Union
aimed at nurturing creativity, empathy and critical thinking among young minds.
The theme for this year’s competition,
“Write a letter to a friend about why human connection matters in a digital
world,” encourages children to reflect on relationships and emotional bonds at
a time when screens often replace face-to-face conversations. Through this
initiative, India Post seeks to revive the art of letter writing while offering
students a powerful platform to express their thoughts in a personal and
meaningful way.
The competition will be conducted
nationwide through all Postal Circles in coordination with schools and
educational institutions. India Post will facilitate participation, collect
entries, and oversee evaluation at the Circle and National levels. Winners are
generally honoured on World Post Day, celebrated on October 9 each year. The
best national entry will represent India at the international stage, where the
Universal Postal Union will award Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, certificates
and other prizes. The Gold Medal winner may also earn a visit to the UPU Headquarters
in Bern, Switzerland, or an alternative international prize.
Open to students between 9 and 15
years of age from recognized schools and institutions, the competition requires
participants to submit a handwritten letter in English or any of the languages
listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Schools have been
requested to conduct the competition internally and forward their selected
entries to the respective Postal Circles by March 20, 2026. The Circles will
then evaluate the submissions and send the top three entries to the Directorate
by March 31, 2026.
At the Circle level, the first prize
carries a cash award of ₹25,000 along with a certificate,
followed by ₹10,000 for the second prize and ₹5,000 for the third. At the National level,
the first prize winner will receive ₹50,000
and a certificate, while the second and third prizes carry awards of ₹25,000
and ₹10,000 respectively, along with certificates.
Each entry must include mandatory
details on the first page, provided in both English and Hindi. These include a
passport-size photograph of the candidate, name, date of birth, gender,
father’s or guardian’s name, the name and full address of the school or
institution, and the candidate’s complete postal address.
India Post has encouraged students,
parents and schools to reach out to their respective Chief Postmaster General,
Postmaster General, Director Postal Services or designated Nodal Officer for
further guidance. Additional information is also available on the official
website of the Department of Posts at www.indiapost.gov.in. Through this
initiative, India Post continues its commitment to inspiring young citizens to
connect, communicate and reflect — one handwritten letter at a time.
