India’s youth as nation builders: The vision of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders' Dialogue

India's greatest strength lies in the energy, aspirations, and innovative potential of its young citizens, who constitute nearly 65 per cent of the population.

- RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

Recognising this demographic advantage and its importance in the nation’s growth story, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has consistently created platforms that empower youth to actively contribute to nation-building.

One such flagship initiative, commemorating the birth anniversary of one of the country’s most enduring youth icons, Swami Vivekananda, is the National Youth Festival. Reimagined in 2025 as the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD), the initiative aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat at 2047 articulated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Now entering its second year, VBYLD has evolved into a national movement positioning youth as the architects of a developed India.

Organised at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, VBYLD 2025 witnessed strong youth participation, with around 2,500 young leaders selected through a rigorous and transparent process. Building on this momentum, VBYLD 2026 has already seen unprecedented engagement, with over 5 million participants in Phase One of the nationwide quiz, compared to 3 million in the corresponding phase of the previous edition. This response reflects the growing readiness of India’s youth to engage constructively in shaping the country’s development trajectory.