India, Sept. 13 -- The Government of India issued the following news release:
Inspired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister's call on Independence Day to engage 1 lakh youth in politics without political background, the National Youth Festival was reimagined as Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) with its first edition held in 2025. Breaking the 25-year-old tradition of the conventional National Youth Festival, it aimed to foster youth leadership by providing a national platform for young people in the age group of 15-29 years to turn their ideas for a Viksit Bharat into reality. This initiative is aimed at creating an inclusive and dynamic platform for young people to present their ideas for the Viksit Bharat directly to the Hon'ble PM.
VBYLD 2025 - First Edition - A Historic Beginning:
The inaugural edition of VBYLD in 2025 marked a historic milestone in youth participation and leadership. About 30 lakh young people across India engaged through the Viksit Bharat Challenge, with over two lakh essays submitted and 9,000 youth showcasing their vision in State Championships. The journey culminated at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, where 3,000 young changemakers participated, including 1,500 from the Viksit Bharat Challenge Track, 1,000 from the Cultural Track, and 500 Pathbreakers (representing youth icons and achievers across diverse fields).
The event became more impactful with the presence of the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who spent nearly six hours in dialogue with the youth, listening to their ideas, vision and perspectives to achieve Viksit Bharat and inspiring them to take up leadership roles in shaping India's future. Joining him were eminent personalities such as Shri Amitabh Kant, Former ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath, Business leaders Shri Anand Mahindra and Shri Ritesh Agarwal, Former Cricketer Jonty Rhodes, and Senior Journalist Mrs. Palki Sharma Upadhyay, who inspired the gathering with their insights and vision for a Viksit Bharat.
Kickstart of VBYLD 2026:
Building on the success of the first edition, the second edition of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue - 2026 (VBYLD - 2026) is aimed at higher registrations, addition of new tracks, wider outreach, and more ambitious objectives. A press conference announcing the second edition was held on 13th September 2025 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi where the Hon'ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya along with the Secretary and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports addressed the press.
The rest of the document can be viewed at https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2166256
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
