CU Punjab Hosts ‘Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect’ to Inspire Youth for Nation-Building

Bathinda, August 8, 2025: The Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB), under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, organized a large-scale event as part of the Viksit Bharat@2047 Yuva Connect Programme (VBYCP) on Friday. This initiative is part of a national campaign spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Punjab Raj Bhawan and MY Bharat platform, aimed at mobilizing youth for active participation in India’s development journey.

The programme featured an inspirational lecture session, the Viksit Bharat Pledge, and the felicitation of winners from various VBYCP competitions. In alignment with the national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the event encouraged young minds to become proactive contributors to the nation’s growth story.

The event began with a welcome address by Prof. Sanjeev Thakur, Dean Student Welfare, who emphasized the pivotal role of youth in nation-building. Dr. Karnati Kiran Kumar introduced the MY Bharat initiative, outlining its goals and guiding students through the registration process.

Delivering the keynote address, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kiran Hazarika highlighted the youth as the driving force of Amrit Kaal. He called for their active engagement in infrastructure, technology, and smart city development. Prof. Hazarika also spotlighted the transformative potential of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly in boosting employability, nurturing innovation, and promoting need-based research. He stressed the need to create opportunities within India to curb brain drain, affirming that the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 is attainable through focused youth participation.

The programme included a video presentation by Dr. Dhanya, followed by a motivational video outlining the roadmap to a developed India, emphasizing scientific innovation, quality education, artificial intelligence, technological advancement, and women empowerment as pillars of national growth.

A major highlight was the Viksit Bharat Pledge, taken by over 150 participants, reaffirming their commitment to building a strong and developed India.

On this occasion, winners of the VBYCP-2025 competitions—Yuva Samvad, Poster Making, and Viksit Bharat Presentation—held on August 6 under the guidance of Programme Director Prof. Anand Thakur (ADSW, CU Punjab), were felicitated by the Pro Vice-Chancellor and other dignitaries.

Dr. Mukesh Yadav, Nodal Officer of VBYCP, shared that over 700 students from CU Punjab have already participated in the initiative via the MY Bharat Portal. He reiterated the university’s commitment to expanding participation and encouraged students to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on International Youth Day (August 12, 2025). Dr. Yadav also thanked all participants and organizers for making the event a grand success.

The event concluded with spirited participation from the university community, echoing a collective commitment toward realizing the vision of a progressive, empowered, and developed India.