Open to high school students aged 13–18, the Franklin Essay Prize challenges you to explore today’s most pressing questions through powerful, original essays.
Deadline: June 15th, 2026 11:59PM IST
Winners Announcement: June 30th, 2026
Cost to Participate: Free
Students interested in making a submission must choose one prompt from one category:
– How has the growing importance of data changed the way societies function and interact?
– As space technology becomes more widely developed, who should be responsible for regulating its use?
– Can artificial intelligence be responsible for its actions, or should accountability always belong to the people who create it?
– How does constant exposure to global events influence which issues people pay attention to?
– How do media and public narratives shape the way people understand world events?
– Has globalization made countries more connected, or more divided?
– Will artificial intelligence create new opportunities for work, or change the meaning of work itself?
– Does technological progress naturally increase economic inequality, or can policy prevent it?
– Can current economic systems respond effectively to climate change, or is a different approach needed?
– Should scientific progress be limited by ethical boundaries, or is curiosity reason enough to proceed?
– Is humanity closer to solving climate change, or merely adapting to its consequences?
– From gene editing to space exploration: what should be the limits of human ambition?
– How does constant exposure to global crises shape the identity and emotional resilience of young people?
– What does it mean to grow up in a world where uncertainty is constant?
– Is the pursuit of productivity eroding our capacity for rest?
1st Prize
₹2,500 Amazon Gift Card + Certificate + 1-Month Free PIPPAMS Access
2nd Prize
₹2,000 Amazon Gift Card + Certificate
3rd Prize
₹1,500 Amazon Gift Card + Certificate
Age: 13–18 years
Grade: Grades 9 to 12 (as of 2026); Homeschooled students welcome
Citizenship/Residency: Open to students worldwide
Graduation Year: Students who graduated in 2025 are not eligible
Cost: Participation is completely free
Submission Deadline
June 15th, 2026
Boost your college applications with a globally recognized academic contest
Sharpen your research, writing, and analytical skills
Compete with students from around the world
Get access to PIPPAMS—a powerful tool for extracurricular tracking and college readiness
Choose a prompt from any one subject
Write your essay (max 1,000 words)
Save as PDF or Word file
Include your name, school, grade, and chosen prompt
Email your essay to essayprize@essai.in
Subject Line Format: Name | School | GradeNo. Only one submission per student is allowed.
Yes! As long as you meet the age and grade criteria.
Essays exceeding 1,000 words (excluding citations/references) may be disqualified.
No. Any AI-generated content will lead to disqualification.
No. The competition is completely free.
Have any doubts or need clarification before submitting your essay?
Email us at essayprize@essai.in, we’re here to help.
