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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced an exciting national-level competition for school students that combines creativity, learning, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As part of this initiative, children aged 9 to 15 years can participate in a letter-writing competition, where the top winner will get a chance to travel to Switzerland, along with attractive cash prizes.

This unique competition is being organized in collaboration with the Department of Posts under the Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter Writing Competition for Young People 2026. The initiative aims to encourage students to express their thoughts through traditional letter writing while reflecting on important social themes.

Who Can Participate in the CBSE Letter Writing Competition?

The competition is open to school-going students between 9 and 15 years of age from across India. Participation will be facilitated through schools. Interested students must submit their entries to their respective schools, which will then shortlist the best submissions and forward them to CBSE.

All relevant details, including guidelines and application formats, are available on CBSE’s official website cbse.gov.in. Schools have been instructed to submit selected entries to CBSE by March 20, 2026.

Theme of the Competition: Importance of Human Connection

Participants are required to write a letter to a friend, either in Hindi or English, based on a thought-provoking theme. The letter should explain why human connection remains important in the digital age, despite the widespread use of mobile phones, social media, and the internet.

Students are encouraged to highlight:

• The value of true friendship

• The importance of family bonds

• Emotional connections and real-life interactions

• How digital communication cannot fully replace human relationships

The goal is to help young minds reflect on emotional intelligence, empathy, and the significance of personal connections in an increasingly digital world.

How the Competition Will Be Conducted

The competition will be conducted in two stages:

1. School and Regional Level

2. National Level

Schools will organize the competition internally and select the best entries. These will then be evaluated at the regional and national levels by CBSE in coordination with the Department of Posts and UPU.

Prize Structure: Cash Rewards and Switzerland Trip

CBSE has announced an attractive reward structure to motivate students to participate enthusiastically.

Regional Level Prizes

• First Prize: ₹25,000 + Certificate

• Second Prize: ₹10,000 + Certificate

• Third Prize: ₹5,000 + Certificate

National Level Prizes

• First Prize: ₹50,000 + Certificate + Trip to UPU Headquarters in Bern, Switzerland (or an alternative prize)

• Second Prize: ₹25,000 + Certificate

• Third Prize: ₹10,000 + Certificate

In addition to cash prizes, winners will also receive medals and certificates as decided by the Universal Postal Union.

International Recognition by UPU

According to the official notification, the International Bureau (IB) of UPU will coordinate the global level of the competition. Each participating country will submit its best entries, from which three international winners will be selected.

The top performers will receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals, along with certificates and special recognition from UPU. The Gold Medal winner will be invited to visit the UPU headquarters in Bern, Switzerland, offering students a rare opportunity for international exposure.

Why This Competition Is Special

This competition not only rewards creativity but also:

• Revives the art of letter writing among children

• Encourages critical thinking and emotional expression

• Promotes awareness about meaningful communication

• Offers global recognition at a young age

For students who enjoy writing and expressing ideas, this contest serves as a perfect platform to showcase talent while learning an important life lesson.

Final Words for Students and Parents

Students interested in participating should contact their schools at the earliest to understand the internal submission process. Parents are encouraged to support their children in developing original ideas and expressing them in their own words.

With a chance to win cash prizes and even travel to Switzerland, this CBSE initiative is a golden opportunity for young learners to combine creativity with global exposure—all through the simple yet powerful act of writing a letter.