India, Nov. 10 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' flagship initiative, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD), facilitated through its autonomous body Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), continues to inspire the youth of India to become active contributors in nation-building. Following the successful kickstart of the 2026 edition earlier this year, the programme's Phase-1 has witnessed an overwhelming response from across the country.
The VBYLD 2026 Quiz, jointly hosted on the MY Bharat and MyGov platforms from 1st September to 31st October 2025, drew participation from over 50.42 lakh youth, surpassing the previous edition's record of 30 lakh participants. Youth from all 28 States and 8 Union Territories joined the initiative, reaffirming their enthusiasm for the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The initiative saw nearly equal participation from young men and women, with 51% male and 49% female representation. Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, and West Bengal emerged as the top five states with the highest number of participants. This remarkable engagement reflects the growing aspiration of India's young population to contribute meaningfully to governance, policy design, and India's developmental journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat.
Moving forward, Phase-2 of VBYLD 2026 will invite approximately 2.56 lakh shortlisted youth to share their views through an Essay Round on ten key national themes shaping the vision of a developed India:
1. Youth in Democracy and Government for Viksit Bharat
2. Women-Led Development: The Key to Viksit Bharat
3. Fit Bharat, Hit Bharat
4. Making India the Start-up Capital of the World
5. Bharat's Soft Power: Cultural Diplomacy and Global Influence for Viksit Bharat
6. Innovation with Tradition: Building a Modern Bharat
7. Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Make in India, Make for the World
8. Enhancing Productivity through Smart and Sustainable Agriculture
9. Building a Sustainable and Green Viksit Bharat
10. Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Viksit Bharat
Essays, to be written in any of 22 Indian languages, will be accepted till 20th November 2025. To ensure fair and transparent evaluation, assessment centres have been established across all States, where submissions will be reviewed and the most promising young contributors will be shortlisted for the State-Level Rounds where they will share their vision for Viksit Bharat through presentations.
The outcome of these rounds will not only highlight the diversity of youth thought across India but will also advance Prime Minister Modi's clarion call from the Red Fort, during his Independence Day speech in 2023, to nurture 1 lakh youth without political backgrounds to enter public life. The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) has today evolved into a nationwide movement of young changemakers. Anchored in the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of Jan Bhagidari and Yuva Shakti, it stands as a dynamic platform for India's youth to engage with governance, share innovative ideas, and contribute meaningfully to the country's developmental agenda.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
