In today’s world, characterized by the rapid and unprecedented development of science and knowledge, technology, artificial intelligence, and the promotion of culture and literature, education, the development of skills and the preservation of national values have acquired primary and vital importance.

The current century – century of science and knowledge, discoveries and inventions, the latest techniques and technologies – is an epoch of progress and development of educated, knowledgeable, innovative, and inventive nations and peoples.

Thanks to independence and freedom, complete peace, stability, and national unity, all the necessary conditions and opportunities have been created in our dear Tajikistan for the science and education of the younger generation and the comprehensive development of national culture and art.

Culture and art are the main means of comprehensively presenting the outstanding image of the nation and the real basis for the upbringing of aesthetic values in society. Our nation is recognized in the world as a cultural nation, and over the years of independence, many measures have been taken to protect and honor cultural values. The republican competition «Tajikistan – My Dear Homeland» is a continuation of these measures.

This competition is in its eighth year, being held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, with the aim of finding new talents in the fields of music, singing, fine arts and design, selecting the best examples of melodies and songs and works of art reflecting the past and present culture of the Tajik nation.

In 2026, the total amount of prizes and the cost of holding this competition will be 8,260,000 (eight million two hundred and sixty thousand) somoni. This is 580 thousand somoni more than in 2025, when 7 million 680 thousand somoni were allocated for the competition. Thus, the grand prize winners will be awarded 100 thousand somoni, and the first, second, and third place winners will be awarded 70 thousand, 50 thousand, and 30 thousand somoni, respectively.

The division of the academic genre of the musical nomination into two parts is another change in the competition, in which applicants will be able to demonstrate their skills and talents in playing national and European instruments. Due to the above changes, the number of winners in 2026 will be 143 people.

In order to accelerate the effective system of support and development of mathematical, exact, and natural sciences, strengthen the impact of scientific knowledge on the development of sectors of the country’s life, increase the efficiency of scientific knowledge and the implementation of innovative technologies, digitalization and effective use of artificial intelligence, and integrate scientific and technological forces into priority areas of social and economic development of the country, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, the republican competition «Science – Dawn of Enlightenment» has been held for 6 years.

In 2026, this competition will also be held within the framework of implementing the goals of «Twenty Years of Study and Development of Natural, Exact, and Mathematical Sciences in the Field of Science and Education» with the aim of strengthening technical thinking, promoting a scientific worldview, gaining even greater access to modern techniques and technologies, expanding inventiveness and innovation, developing digitization and the proper use of artificial intelligence, linking science with production, attracting students and other segments of society to comprehensive study of mathematical, exact, and natural sciences, as well as discovering and presenting new talents in these areas.

In order to further improve and strengthen the competition and ensure transparency in its holding process, changes and innovations have been made to the Regulations of the competition. In particular, a republican portal of the competition has been developed, through which the entire holding process, information about participants and winners, and questions from jury members will be carried out.

Also, the knowledge testing of the participants of the fourth round of the competition will be carried out first through the National Testing Center and then before the jury, and the means of determining the winners will be strengthened.

Given the changes made, the total amount for organizing and recognizing the winners of the competition amounted to 9,870,000 (nine million, eight hundred and seventy thousand) somoni, which is 650,000 somoni more than in 2025, when 9,220,000 (nine million, two hundred and twenty thousand) somoni were allocated for this competition.

The holding of this competition in 2021-2025 showed that interest in studying mathematical, exact, and natural sciences has increased significantly among the country’s youth and teenagers, which has become the basis for finding and educating highly qualified engineering and technical specialists.

It is worth noting that, as in previous years, in 2026, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, the republican competition “Book – Dawn of Knowledge” will be held to enhance the taste for reading, enhance intellectual capacity, find new speakers and orators, pay tribute to national and cultural values, develop creative abilities, strengthen the sense of self-awareness and self-knowledge, improve vocabulary, and contribute to the development of the spiritual world of society. In order to further improve and strengthen the process of holding the competition and encourage more participants, in 2026, changes were made to the competition Regulations, and students of secondary and primary vocational education institutions were divided from 2 groups into 3 age groups. Thus, this year the competition will be held among primary school students of general secondary education institutions (grades 1-4), secondary school students (grades 5-8), and secondary school students (grades 9-11) and primary vocational education institutions.

Given the changes made, the total amount for holding and recognizing the winners of the competition is 8,290,000 (eight million two hundred and ninety thousand) somoni. This is by 1 million 620 thousand somoni more than in 2025, when 6,670,000 (six million six hundred and seventy thousand) somoni were allocated for holding this competition.

Thus, a total of 26 million 420 thousand somoni will be allocated from the Reserve Fund of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan for holding these competitions in 2026.

Holding these competitions, as a continuation of the educational and cultural policy of the Leader of the Nation, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, will inspire and encourage greater efforts and endeavors of society in the path of scientific education, the learning of the legendary legacy of the nation’s outstanding sons, and the development of national and world culture and art. Thousands of teenagers and young people will win with their science, knowledge, and talent, demonstrating that they are worthy descendants of the Motherland.