Bala Janaagraha - Our City Our Challenge
by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy
National Civic Fest Recognition
Year-long school civic learning curriculum where Indian students identify a local civic problem, engage their community, design a solution, and present at a national Civic Fest.
Mode
Hybrid
Fee
Free
Participation format
Team
Teams of 2 to 6
Duration
Academic year (curriculum) with seasonal Our City Our Challenge project cycle
Eligibility
Core curriculum is delivered to Class 8 students; Our City Our Challenge project is open to school teams across the wider grade range.
- Grade level
- Grade 8
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Recognition
National Civic Fest Recognition
Skills your child builds
How to apply
- 1Schools partner with Janaagraha to introduce the Bala Janaagraha civic learning curriculum into Class 8.
- 2Educators are trained by Janaagraha to deliver classroom sessions and guide student project work.
- 3Student teams choose a local civic issue, conduct field engagement, and develop a solution using design thinking.
- 4Teams register their project on the Our City Our Challenge portal and submit their documentation.
- 5Shortlisted teams present at city Civic Fests and qualify for the National Civic Fest.
Rules and guidelines
- Teams must consist of 2 to 6 students from the same school.
- All projects must address a local civic issue relevant to the community.
- Projects should demonstrate community engagement and design thinking principles.
- Submissions must be original work and adhere to the specified documentation guidelines.
- Teams must participate in city-level Civic Fests to qualify for the National Civic Fest.
About this opportunity
Bala Janaagraha is the civic learning initiative of Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, launched in 2002 with the goal of transforming children in urban India into informed, responsible, and active citizens. Through a specially developed curriculum, the program gives students hands-on involvement with civic issues their neighbourhoods face today, replacing bookish civics instruction with project-based, design-thinking led learning.
The core curriculum is delivered primarily to students of Class 8 in government, aided, and private unaided schools, combining classroom sessions with structured project work. Themes covered include climate change, sanitation, gender, road safety, waste management, water and electricity, and urban governance. Students learn to look beyond symptoms of civic problems, examine root causes, and engage with local stakeholders and community members.
Student teams choose a local civic issue, conduct field engagement, apply design thinking to develop an actionable solution, document their journey, and submit their project. Shortlisted teams progress through city-level Civic Fests to the National Civic Fest, where finalists present their work to a panel of public officials, educators, and civic leaders.
Over more than two decades the initiative has engaged 480,596 children, trained 1,200 educators, supported 26,980 hyper-local solutions, and reached 800 schools across 26 cities, with 11,690 students participating in annual Civic Fests.
What your child will do
- Classroom sessions on civic themes including governance, climate, sanitation, road safety, and waste management
- Field engagement with local residents, community members, and public officials
- Team-based design thinking project on a chosen local civic issue
- Documentation and submission of the civic project on the Our City Our Challenge portal
- Presentation at city Civic Fests with progression to the National Civic Fest
Mentors and faculty
School educators trained by Janaagraha, supported by Janaagraha civic learning staff
Languages
Academic details
Difficulty: Intermediate
What's covered
Activity-based civic learning curriculum covering climate, sanitation, gender, road safety, waste management, water and electricity, and urban governance, delivered through classroom sessions and team projects.
Frequently asked questions
How are students supported in identifying and addressing local civic problems effectively?
Students receive structured guidance through the Bala Janaagraha curriculum, which teaches them to look beyond symptoms, examine root causes, and apply design thinking principles. Trained educators and Janaagraha staff provide mentorship, helping teams engage with local stakeholders and develop actionable solutions.
What are the long-term benefits for students who complete the Bala Janaagraha program?
Participants develop critical 21st-century skills such as design thinking, problem-solving, community engagement, and collaborative teamwork. The program fosters active citizenship, civic agency, and a deeper understanding of urban governance, preparing students to be informed and responsible citizens.
Can schools from any city in India participate in the Bala Janaagraha program?
Bala Janaagraha aims for nationwide reach, having engaged schools across 26 cities. Interested schools from any urban area in India are encouraged to contact Janaagraha to explore partnership opportunities and integrate the civic learning curriculum into their academic year.
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