Department of Posts Rolls Out National Stamp Design Contest for UN’s 80th Anniversary

To commemorate the upcoming 80th anniversary of the United Nations in October 2025, the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India (India Post), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the UN Political Division, has launched a nationwide stamp design competition. This unique initiative invites young artists to creatively express the pivotal theme: "UN@80 and India's leadership in building our future through multilateralism, global leadership, and stewardship."

The competition, which commenced on July 1, 2025, provides a prestigious platform for students to visually interpret India's profound commitment to the UN's mission, from its role as a founding member to its continued contributions in areas like peacekeeping, sustainable development, climate action, and championing the voice of the Global South. The winning design at the national level will be released as a commemorative postage stamp on October 24, 2025, coinciding with United Nations Day, a moment of immense pride for the winning student and their institution.

Eligibility and Submission Guidelines:

The contest is open to students of Classes 9 to 12 from schools affiliated with CBSE, all State Boards, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and Navodaya Vidyalayas, as well as students from recognized Art Colleges across India.

Key guidelines for participation include:

• Theme: "UN@80 and India's leadership in building our future through multilateralism, global leadership, and stewardship."
• Artwork Medium: Participants should create their designs using crayons, pencil colours, water colours, or acrylic paints. Computer-generated designs or printouts are not allowed.
• Paper Specifications: Designs must be drawn on A4 size (200 GSM) white art sheets.
• Institutional Participation: Entries must be submitted through institutions (schools/colleges), not individually. Each institution is permitted to submit a maximum of five shortlisted entries.
• Submission Process: Institutions are required to conduct an internal screening to select their best five designs. These shortlisted designs must then be scanned and uploaded onto the MyGov Portal (innovateindia.mygov.in). The portal for uploads went live on July 20, 2025.
• Deadline: The last date for institutions to upload the scanned entries on the MyGov Portal is August 15, 2025.

Selection Process and Recognition:

After the online submission, a committee chaired by the Chief Postmaster General (CPMG) of the respective postal circle will evaluate the entries and select five best designs from their region. These regional selections will then be forwarded to the Postal Directorate, Ministry of Communications, New Delhi, for national-level evaluation. A final selection committee, jointly nominated by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Posts, will choose the ultimate winning design.

Beyond the honor of having their artwork featured on an official postage stamp, winning participants will receive a certificate from the Ministry of External Affairs. Additionally, the top 10 designs will receive exclusive goodies from India Post.

This competition is a powerful platform for young artists to showcase their creativity and deepen their understanding of India's global role and the principles of international cooperation. Students and institutions are urged to visit the MyGov portal and official India Post website (www.indiapost.gov.in) for detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and any further updates.