A general-knowledge paper about your own city: the Kashi Sansad Gyan Pratiyogita now runs 29 August to 3 September

If you have ever argued with a friend about which ghat came first or who wrote what in Banaras, there is now a date attached to that argument. The Kashi Sansad Gyan Pratiyogita 2026 — the MP's knowledge competition — has been rescheduled and will now run from 29 August to 3 September. It had originally been set to open on 25 August; the Chief Development Officer, Prakhar Singh, said the dates were shifted for unavoidable reasons. The paper is not a generic quiz. It is built around Varanasi itself: the temples and the ghats, the city's religious and historical life, its literature, its music, and its long tradition of journalism. That makes it one of the rare competitions where growing up here is genuinely an advantage — and where a student who has actually read about Kabir, or listened properly to a Banaras gharana recording, has something to show for it. Instructions have gone out through the CDO's office to Banaras Hindu University, Kashi Vidyapith and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, along with district officials and the education department, so most colleges and schools in the city are inside the loop. The announcement did not spell out registration steps, venues or prize details, so students who want to take part should check with their own institution's office or the education department for the participation process before the window opens.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: Amar Ujala — Varanasi