Google Joins ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’: Launches ‘India Ki Udaan’ Program; Announces Rs 5 Lakh Scholarship For Doodle4Google Winner

Google on Friday unveiled a vibrant online project which captures the milestones India has achieved in its journey of 75 years since Independence.

Showcasing spirit of India

Named ‘India ki Udaan’, the project executed by Google Arts & Culture is “themed on the unwavering and undying spirit of India over these past 75 years”.

Google also announced its collaboration with the Ministry of Culture to support the Government’s year-long ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ programme”.

With this the search giant will showcase the contributions of Indians and the evolution of India since 1947.

Doodle contest

It unveiled its popular Doodle4Google contest for 2022, themed on ‘In the next 25 years, my India will …’

It is now open for entries to students of classes 1-10.

The winner’s artwork will be displayed on the Google homepage in India on November 14, and win a Rs 5,00,000 college scholarship, a Rs 2,00,000 technology package for their school/non-profit organisation, a recognition of achievement, Google hardware, and fun Google collectibles.

Digital mapping of monuments

Union Culture and Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said that Google could help the Culture Ministry in digital mapping of the boundaries of its over 3,000 centrally protected monuments.

This will help in better monitoring of the sites and checking encroachment.

It could also help digitise rare archival material.

He called on Google to “be a partner in the government’s transformative journey, as also promote India’s tourism destinations”.

Digital revolution

This joint venture was organised under the aegis of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

Reddy noted that India today is in the middle of a digital, data and disintermediation revolution.

Digital revolution has led to ease of doing business.

As a result, common Indian citizens are able to avail services in a faceless, presence less and cashless manner.

Data revolution

Thanks to the data revolution India can provide data at one of the lowest rates in the world.

He credited this to a “proactive government policy” which has encouraged competition in the telecom sector, leading to lower prices.

The disintermediation revolution has removed middle-men making India’s small businesses competitive and export ready.

Pièce de résistance

The centrepiece of its celebrations is a new online collection titled ‘India Ki Udaan’ available on the Google Arts & Culture website.

The collection pays tribute to India’s rich cultural history and includes iconic moments from the last 75 years for people to relive, experience, and be inspired by.

It is published in English and Hindi and anyone can explore more than 120 illustrations and 21 stories created by 10 talented artists, alongside exhibitions from various institutions across India.