Round 1 is the Policy Blueprint Submission stage of Youth PM 2026.
As a registered team, you must select one of the six policy challenges provided below and develop a practical, evidence-based policy response.
The six challenges have been designed to encourage students to combine knowledge from different disciplines such as AI and Technology, Economics, Commerce, Business Studies, Environmental Science, Humanities, Political Science, Ethics, Geography and Science.
Each team must select one of the following six challenges.
AI: Job Creator or Job Destroyer?
Should India Say Yes to the Data Centre Boom?
Safe Food vs Affordable Food
India in a Changing Global Marketplace
Can India Become a Circular Economy?
Is Cash Really Going Away?
India wants to become a global leader in Artificial Intelligence while millions of young people enter the workforce every year.
Data centres are essential for India's digital and AI ambitions. They can bring investment, jobs and digital infrastructure, but they also require significant amounts of electricity, water and land.
Strong food-safety standards are essential for protecting consumers. However, compliance can also create challenges for small restaurants, street vendors and other food businesses.
Changes in tariffs and international trade rules can affect Indian businesses, consumers and India's position in global markets.
India is generating increasing amounts of waste while businesses and consumers are under growing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices.
Digital payments have become increasingly important to India's economy and everyday commerce. At the same time, questions remain around accessibility, security, consumer protection and the participation of small businesses.
Your submission should answer six fundamental questions:
Clearly explain:
Do not simply repeat the challenge statement. Demonstrate that your team has understood the underlying issue.
Use evidence to understand and support your argument.
You may use:
Identify 3–5 important evidence points that influenced your thinking and explain why they matter to your policy proposal.
This is the core of your submission.
Explain:
Your proposal should be specific enough that someone can understand how it would operate in the real world.
Explain how different subjects or perspectives helped your team develop the policy.
For example, a policy may require you to consider:
Do not simply list subjects. Explain how the different perspectives connect.
Identify the major groups affected by your policy.
Consider:
Explain:
Every policy has consequences.
Identify at least two significant risks, disadvantages or unintended consequences of your proposed policy.
Then explain how your policy could reduce or manage these risks.
Explain how your policy could actually be implemented.
Consider:
You do not need to prepare a detailed government budget. The objective is to demonstrate that your team has considered the practical realities of implementation.
Explain how the government would determine whether your policy is working.
Provide at least three measurable indicators.
Avoid vague outcomes such as: "The policy will improve employment."
Instead, identify measurable indicators such as:
Your indicators should relate directly to the problem you are trying to solve.
Provide a list of all important sources used.
Sources should support important facts, statistics and claims made in your submission.
Teams are expected to fact-check their sources and information before submission.
| Section | Recommended Length |
|---|---|
| Problem Definition | 150–200 words |
| Evidence & Data | 3–5 key evidence points |
| Policy Proposal | 300–400 words |
| Interdisciplinary Approach | 150–200 words |
| Stakeholders & Human Impact | 150–200 words |
| Trade-offs & Unintended Consequences | 150–200 words |
| Implementation & Feasibility | 150–200 words |
| Measuring Success | Minimum 3 indicators |
| Sources | As required |
| Overall Submission | Approximately 1,200–1,500 words |
AI tools may be used as a supporting tool during preparation.
Every team must include the following declaration at the end of its submission:
Your Round 1 submission must:
SchoolName_TeamCode_YouthPM2026.pdf
The first page should clearly mention:
Each submission will be evaluated out of 100 marks across five criteria.
| 1. Problem Understanding & Evidence | 20 |
| 2. Interdisciplinary Thinking | 20 |
| 3. Policy Solution & Feasibility | 20 |
| 4. Human Impact, Ethics & Trade-offs | 20 |
| 5. Originality, Clarity & Student Ownership | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Before submitting, make sure your team can answer YES to all of the following:
Youth PM is not about finding the most complicated answer.
It is about developing a thoughtful, evidence-based and practical policy to a real-world problem.
Your team is not being asked to find a perfect solution. You are being asked to demonstrate how young policy thinkers can understand complexity, balance competing interests and develop rational solutions.