Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue: Unlocking Youth Leadership for Viksit Bharat

By Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
India’s growth story will be written by those who are shaping its ideas today. Across the country, young Indians are thinking deeply about how India can grow faster, govern better and become developed by 2047. Their ideas are emerging from campuses and communities, start-ups and sports fields, classrooms and village meetings. The real question is no longer whether the youth have something to contribute, but whether their ideas are given a credible platform to influence the nation’s direction. The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) is designed to provide that very platform.
India today is home to the largest youth population in the world. It is therefore but natural that the direction of the nation’s future will be shaped not merely by policies or institutions, but by the imagination, conviction and courage of its young citizens. This vast reservoir of Yuva Shakti is far more than a demographic advantage; it is India’s greatest national asset, capable of driving innovation, strengthening democracy and propelling the country towards inclusive and sustainable development.
The aspirations of India’s young generation are guided by a strong sense of purpose and possibility. Today’s youth are not driven solely by personal advancement; they are equally motivated by a desire to shoulder responsibility and make a meaningful impact. They seek avenues where their creativity can translate into solutions, their energy into leadership and their ambition into service.
During my time as Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, I have had the opportunity to engage with young Indians in varied settings, on university campuses, in rural districts, at sports arenas and during youth-led community initiatives. What consistently stands out is the seriousness with which young people think about the nation’s future. I recall meeting a group of rural youth volunteers who had organised informal learning centres in their villages. With limited resources but strong conviction, they were addressing gaps in education and skill development through locally designed solutions. Their ideas were practical, rooted in ground realities and driven by a clear sense of responsibility. Experiences like these reaffirm a simple truth: when young people are trusted and given space, they do not merely participate, they lead.
Inspired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call from the Red Fort to bring one lakh youth without political backgrounds into public life, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue was launched in January 2025 reimagining the National Youth Festival in an entirely new format. The response was unprecedented. Over 30 lakh young people engaged through the Viksit Bharat Challenge, more than two lakh essays were submitted, and thousands of youth presented their ideas at the state level. The journey culminated at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where 3,000 youth leaders interacted in a free-flowing dialogue with the Prime Minister, who spent several hours listening to their ideas and inspiring them to lead.
Beyond the numbers, it was the nature of engagement that made the Dialogue truly historic. It recognised, both in letter and spirit, that the voices of India’s youth matter in shaping the India of 2047. Young participants were encouraged to think critically about national challenges, propose solutions and align personal ambition with collective purpose, bridging the gap between aspiration and action.
The strength of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue lies not only in its scale, but in its design. Diversity of thought, language, culture and lived experience is embedded into the very structure of the initiative. Youth from urban and rural India, students and professionals, innovators and grassroots leaders come together on a common platform. Multiple stages of engagement ensure that ideas are refined through dialogue and exchange, not filtered out by geography, language or background. In doing so, the Dialogue ensures that every young person who participates has both a voice and a platform to amplify it.
India’s youth have always been at the heart of the nation’s defining moments, from the freedom struggle to the building of the institutions of an independent India. At every turning point, young Indians have stepped forward with courage, conviction and a willingness to lead. Today, the nation once again looks to its youth not just for participation, but for leadership and dynamism in co-creating India’s growth story. The vision of Viksit Bharat at 2047 goes beyond economic progress alone; it calls for social harmony, environmental responsibility, technological stewardship and inclusive growth. These complex challenges require fresh thinking, adaptability and an ability to embrace the new: qualities that reside strongly in India’s Yuva Shakti.
Building on the resounding success of a landmark first edition, VBYLD 2026, scheduled from 9–12 January 2026, signals a decisive leap from a national youth convening to a platform with global resonance. With new initiatives such as Design for Bharat and Tech for Viksit Bharat, and the inclusion of the international Indian youth diaspora, the dialogue expands beyond borders. Yet, at its heart, the mission remains unchanged: to empower young Indians to think boldly, create fearlessly, and lead with conviction.
The scale of this edition underscores the depth of that ambition. More than 50 lakh young people participated in the Viksit Bharat Quiz, the first stage of selection for VBYLD 2026, making it one of the largest youth engagement exercises of its kind. Over four intensive days, participants from every corner of the country will engage with leading national and global voices, drawing upon practical insights, ideas, and visions that transcend disciplines and geographies.
What truly sets VBYLD 2026 apart, however, is that it gives our Yuva Shakti an opportunity not only to speak, but to be heard. The platform enables young Indians to articulate their ideas, aspirations, and solutions directly to the Prime Minister of India. On 12 January, observed nationwide as National Youth Day in commemoration of Swami Vivekananda, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will personally interact with the youth at Bharat Mandapam, listening to how they imagine, and intend to shape, the future of Bharat.
As India advances towards the centenary of its independence, it demands the engagement of young individuals who possess the courage to imagine boldly and the resolve to translate ideas into meaningful action. More than a platform for dialogue, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is a movement that calls upon young Indians to lead from the front, confront national challenges, and channel their ambitions towards building a Viksit Bharat.
A Viksit Bharat will be built by those who have the confidence to lead and the commitment to serve. India’s youth are ready. The nation must be ready to walk with them.
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(The author is Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment)