Esri India StoryMaps Challenge 2026

Mapping Ideas, Shaping Narratives

Enter the contest View terms & conditions
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Esri India StoryMap Challenge

Following the successful launch of the inaugural Esri India StoryMaps Challenge in 2025, Esri India is pleased to announce the Esri India StoryMaps Challenge 2026—a national storytelling competition designed to showcase the power of GIS through creative and impactful StoryMaps. Building on the success of the previous edition, the 2026 challenge aims to inspire even more innovative stories that demonstrate how GIS can be used to address real-world challenges, uncover insights, and create meaningful impact.

  • Take a geographic approach

    The world’s greatest challenges—including climate change, sustainability, and social and economic inequality—are interrelated and inherently tied to geography. GIS tools help people understand those challenges and communicate solutions through place-based stories.

    Learn about GIS

  • Tell stories with maps

    Maps are an integral part of storytelling—a story can effect change, influence opinion, and create awareness. ArcGIS StoryMaps enables storytellers to easily combine text, maps, and interactive content to make engaging stories that inform and inspire.

    Browse storytelling resources

  • Tell your story

    Your story could showcase your plans or projects, educate people about an issue, or help gain support for your cause. Or it could be a personal story, such as sharing a place you love. The possibilities are endless.

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Challenge Announcement


The Esri India StoryMaps Challenge 2026 invites students, professionals, researchers, GIS enthusiasts, and storytellers to showcase the power of location intelligence through compelling digital narratives. The challenge provides a unique platform to explore, visualize, and communicate stories that matter—highlighting India's diverse landscapes, communities, innovations, and opportunities through the lens of geography.

The participants are encouraged to create engaging StoryMaps that combine maps, multimedia, data, and storytelling to reveal insights, inspire action, and drive understanding. From sustainability and infrastructure to culture, science, and community impact, the challenge celebrates how GIS and Geospatial AI are helping shape a smarter, more connected world.

Using ArcGIS StoryMaps, participants can transform complex spatial information into meaningful, interactive experiences that inform, engage, and inspire audiences across the country.

View the full judging criteria

Themes

  • Sustainability, Environment & Biodiversity

    Climate change, conservation, wildlife protection, forest monitoring, biodiversity hotspots, ecological restoration, and environmental sustainability.

  • Infrastructure & Smart Communities

     Urban planning, transportation, housing, utilities, smart cities, digital twins, and infrastructure development.

  • Heritage, Culture & Tourism

    Historical sites, cultural traditions, tourism, festivals, and stories that celebrate places and people.

  • Disaster Management & Resilience

    Disaster preparedness, flood and earthquake management, emergency response, climate resilience, and risk reduction.

  • Social Impact, Health & Education

    Healthcare accessibility, literacy initiatives, women empowerment, social development programs, and community well-being.

  • Water, Agriculture & Food Security

    Watershed management, irrigation, crop analysis, agricultural innovation, and sustainable resource management.

  • Space, Science & Innovation

    Space exploration, Earth observation, satellite applications, scientific research, AI, and emerging geospatial technologies

  • Sports & Events Mapping

    Spirit of sports, concerts, festivals, and large public events

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Key dates and submission deadlines

Competition Launch: 19th June

Submission Window Open: 19th June - 19th July

Winner Announcement: 17th August

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Prizes and Recognition

Rank

Prize Money (INR)

1st Winner

1,00,000

2nd Winner

75,000

3rd & 4th Winner

50,000 Each

5th to 8th Winner

25,000 Each

9th to 10th Winner

10,000 Each

* Applicable taxes (TDS) will be deducted as per government regulations

Recognition at Esri India User Conference 2026
All winners will be felicitated during the Closing Ceremony of the Esri India User Conference 2026, to be held on 2–3 September 2026 at Hotel Pullman New Delhi Aerocity. Winners will also receive a complimentary conference pass to attend the event.

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Requirements

  • Complete the StoryMap Entry Form and provide all required details. All participants must use the ArcGIS StoryMaps competition license provided by Esri India to create and submit their StoryMaps for this challenge.
  • Esri India will provide ArcGIS StoryMaps licenses to all registered participants who complete the entry form. These licenses are to be used exclusively for creating and submitting StoryMaps for the challenge.
  • Competition licenses will remain active only for the duration of the contest and will be disabled after the challenge concludes.
  • Only StoryMaps created using the license provided by Esri India for this competition will be eligible for evaluation. Entries created using personal, academic, or organizational licenses will not be accepted.
  • Once your StoryMap is complete, submit the final StoryMap URL to storymaps@esri.in before the submission deadline.

A computer monitor displaying an ArcGIS StoryMaps story with a block of text beside a photo of an oceanographer posing by the ocean

Judging criteria

Each StoryMap will be evaluated by the judging panel based on the following criteria:

  • Story telling: Clarity and Creativity (25%)
  • Data & Maps Usage (25%)
  • Creativity & Design (20%)
  • Impact / Relevance (20%)
  • Visual and multimedia elements (10%)

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Terms and conditions

By entering the Esri India ArcGIS StoryMaps challenge 2026, you confirm that you have read and agree to the terms and conditions.

Review terms and conditions
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Resources

Find tips and tricks to get you started.

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Get inspiration for your story

Browse ArcGIS StoryMaps Gallery

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