Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday shared an article written by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, emphasising the central role of India’s youth in shaping the country’s present and future.
The article highlights how young Indians have consistently contributed to the nation’s defining moments and positions the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) as a movement that empowers youth to lead from the front, address national challenges and align their ambitions with the goal of building a developed India by 2047.
Responding to Mandaviya’s post on X, the Prime Minister said, “In this thought-provoking article, Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya underscores that India’s youth have always shaped the nation’s defining moments. The Minister describes the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue as a movement that calls upon young Indians to lead from the front, confront national challenges and channel their ambitions towards building a Viksit Bharat.”
Sharing the link of his article on X, Mandaviya described youth leadership as the cornerstone of a developed India. He said the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue empowers yuva shakti to take on real challenges and co-create the country’s future. He noted that young leaders from across the country would converge at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from January 9 to 12 to present their ideas on Viksit Bharat before PM Modi.
In his article, Mandaviya said that India’s growth story will be shaped by young people who are already generating ideas in campuses, communities, start-ups, sports fields, classrooms and village forums. He argued that the key challenge is not the lack of ideas among the youth, but the absence of credible platforms to ensure these ideas influence national decision-making – a gap that VBYLD seeks to address.
Highlighting that India has the world’s largest youth population, the minister described this demographic strength as the country’s greatest national asset, capable of driving innovation, strengthening democracy and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development.
Recalling his interactions with young people across diverse settings, Mandaviya noted that youth consistently demonstrate seriousness and commitment towards nation-building when given trust and space. He cited examples of rural youth-led initiatives addressing education and skill gaps with limited resources but strong conviction.
The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue was launched in January 2025, inspired by PM Modi’s call from the Red Fort to bring one lakh youth without political backgrounds into public life. Reimagined from the National Youth Festival, the initiative saw participation from over 30 lakh young people through the Viksit Bharat Challenge, with more than two lakh essays submitted and thousands of ideas presented at the state level. The process culminated at Bharat Mandapam, where 3,000 youth leaders engaged in an open dialogue with the Prime Minister.
Mandaviya said that the initiative stands out for its inclusive design, bringing together youth from diverse regions, backgrounds and professions, and ensuring that ideas are refined through dialogue rather than filtered by geography or language.
Looking ahead, the second edition of VBYLD, scheduled from January 9 to 12, 2026, is expected to expand its reach globally with initiatives such as Design for Bharat and Tech for Viksit Bharat, along with participation from the Indian youth diaspora. Over 50 lakh young people have already taken part in the Viksit Bharat Quiz, the first stage of selection for the 2026 edition.
On January 12, observed nationwide as National Youth Day to commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, PM Modi will personally interact with the selected youth leaders at Bharat Mandapam.
Describing the Dialogue as more than a forum for discussion, Mandaviya said that it is a movement calling upon young Indians to lead, innovate and serve. He concluded that while India’s youth are ready to shape the future, the nation must be ready to walk alongside them.
