| At this stage, evaluators will check for eligibility and completeness. Applications must demonstrate that: |
| Applicant eligibility – The applicant is an individual, organisation or group/collective. |
| Sub-category – The application is made under one of the five sub-categories. |
| Body of work – The applicant has at least three years of consistent climate and sustainability communication, evidenced by at least three representative works spanning that period. |
| Access to the work – Each representative work is accessible through a valid link or file. |
| Completeness – All mandatory fields in the form are filled. |
| [Placeholder] Conflict of interest – Eligibility of Times Group publications, channels and journalists to be confirmed with JSW Foundation and The Times of India. |
| [Placeholder] Commissioned or branded content – Whether commissioned or brand-funded content is eligible, to be confirmed. |
| Only applications that meet all requirements will progress to Stage 2. |
| Eligible applications are scored on six criteria using a Likert scale (1–3–5). Weights are proposed and subject to confirmation with the jury chair. |
| 1. Relevance and depth (20%) |
| How directly and substantively the body of work engages with climate and sustainability issues, and its ability to simplify complex issues for its audience. |
| 2. Consistency and credibility (20%) |
| Sustained output over three or more years, and the quality, accuracy and credibility of content, including the use of sources and expertise. |
| 3. Creative approach (15%) |
| Originality and innovation in storytelling or artistic execution that make climate communication engaging, distinctive and memorable. |
| 4. Reach and engagement (15%) |
| Scale and depth of engagement, judged against indicators appropriate to the medium and the intended audience rather than absolute numbers. |
| 5. Impact and influence (20%) |
| Demonstrated or likely influence on awareness, attitudes, behaviour, public discourse or policy conversations, with priority to evidenced outcomes. |
| 6. Inclusion of underrepresented voices (10%) |
| The extent to which the work intentionally amplifies the voices of women, youth, indigenous or other vulnerable groups. |
| Show how your climate communication has developed over at least three years, with representative works that span that period. |
| Make sure every representative work has a working link (with a password if private) so reviewers can experience it directly. |
| Share evidence of reach and engagement suited to your medium, such as readership, engagement beyond followers, screenings, performances or listeners. |
| Explain the sources, research or expertise behind your content. |
| Highlight how your work amplifies diverse or underrepresented voices. |
