Task A: Civic Quotient quiz (40%)
- 30 multiple-choice questions, 20 minutes, one attempt
- Constitution, the Assembly, elections and local government
- Tamil or English; questions shuffled; no negative marking
- Free learning modules to prepare
Event details
From your phone to the floor of the House in ten weeks
Open entry, merit-based selection and representation from every district. Each tier is a learning experience in itself.
The pathway
Three tiers, one House
| Tier | What happens | When | Who | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus orientation | 60-minute session in each partner college on why democracy needs you, how TNYP works and how to register | 11 Nov – 5 Dec 2026 | Students in 100 partner colleges + webinars for professionals | 10,000 registrations |
| Round 1: Online | Civic Quotient quiz + 2-minute policy video, in Tamil or English | 16 Nov – 15 Dec 2026 | All registrants | 2,400 shortlisted (300 per zone) |
| Zonal Youth Parliaments | One-day Assembly simulation in each of 8 zones: 4 parallel Houses of about 75 Members, a mock Bill debate, Question Hour and jury evaluation | 2, 3, 9, 10 Jan 2027 | 2,400 shortlisted | 234 State Members |
| State Youth Parliament | Two-day full Assembly in Chennai, live-streamed | 25–26 Jan 2027 | 234 Members + Press Gallery | A Bill passed + the Tamil Nadu Youth Charter 2027 |
Round 1: Preliminary
Two tasks. Zero fees.
Task B: 2-minute video (60%)
- Topic: “If I were an MLA, the one law I'd pass for Tamil Nadu”
- Up to 2 minutes; face visible; Tamil, English or both
- MP4/MOV up to 200 MB, or an unlisted YouTube/Drive link
- No party symbols, no personal attacks, no copyrighted music
How the video is scored (100 marks)
| Criterion | Marks | What we look for |
|---|---|---|
| Clarity of the problem | 20 | A real, specific issue relevant to Tamil Nadu |
| Research & evidence | 20 | Facts, data or examples, with sources |
| Quality of the proposed law | 25 | Feasible, fair, within the State's powers |
| Originality | 15 | A fresh idea or angle |
| Communication | 15 | Clear, confident, well structured |
| Compliance | 5 | Within time; rules followed |
Final Round 1 score = 40% × quiz percentage + 60% × video score. Two trained evaluators score every video independently. Ties go to the higher video score, then the faster quiz time.
Statewide reach
8 zones cover all 38 districts
| Zone | Hub city | Districts | State seats | Zonal date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z1 Chennai Metro | Chennai | Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram | 37 | Sat 2 Jan 2027 |
| Z2 North | Vellore | Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Viluppuram, Kallakurichi | 32 | Sun 3 Jan 2027 |
| Z3 West | Coimbatore | Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Nilgiris, Erode | 29 | Sat 2 Jan 2027 |
| Z4 Kongu North | Salem | Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri | 28 | Sun 3 Jan 2027 |
| Z5 Central | Tiruchirappalli | Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Pudukkottai | 23 | Sun 10 Jan 2027 |
| Z6 Delta | Thanjavur | Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore | 27 | Sat 9 Jan 2027 |
| Z7 South Central | Madurai | Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram | 36 | Sat 9 Jan 2027 |
| Z8 Deep South | Tirunelveli | Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Kanyakumari | 22 | Sun 10 Jan 2027 |
| Total | 38 districts | 234 |
State seats are allocated in proportion to each zone's Assembly constituencies. Every district sends at least one Member, and at least 40% of each zone's seats go to women.
Who can take part
Eligibility
You can take part if you are
- Aged 18 to 35 on 1 January 2027 (born between 2 Jan 1991 and 1 Jan 2009)
- Studying, working or living in Tamil Nadu
- Willing to follow the Code of Conduct and the Non-Partisan Charter
You cannot compete if you are
- An office-bearer of a political party or its youth/student wing (you may attend as an observer)
- WYF staff, an evaluator or juror, or an immediate family member of one
Two ways in
- College route
- Students of partner colleges register with their college selected; their Campus Ambassador keeps them updated.
- Open route
- Young professionals, entrepreneurs and students of other institutions register directly and compete in the zone where they live or work.
Selection
Zonal and State judging
| Criterion | Marks |
|---|---|
| Content & research | 25 |
| Constitutional & procedural knowledge | 20 |
| Articulation & persuasion | 20 |
| Rebuttal & responsiveness | 15 |
| Decorum & leadership | 10 |
| Solutions orientation | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Juries include law and political science faculty, retired officials, senior journalists and cross-party former legislators. Jurors declare conflicts of interest and never judge their own institution's students.