Youth Leadership Is Key To Viksit Bharat

India’s growth story is increasingly driven by a thinking and aspirational youth; the real challenge is no longer a lack of ideas, but whether young people are given institutional platforms to shape national policy and direction.

About Yuva Shakti- A National Asset

• Largest Youth Population: India has the world’s largest youth population, making youth central to shaping the country’s future.
• Beyond Demographic Dividend: Yuva Shakti is not merely a numerical advantage but a strategic resource for innovation, democratic strengthening, and inclusive development. 
  • India’s future will not be shaped merely by policies, but by the imagination, conviction, and courage of young citizens.

Youth as Natural Leaders of Change

• Grassroots Problem Solving: Young people are already addressing education and skills gaps through locally designed solutions, even with limited resources.
• Trust Enables Leadership: When youth are trusted and given space, they move from participation to leadership in solving public problems.

Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD)

• Background: Launched following the Prime Minister’s call from the Red Fort, the National Youth Festival was restructured as VBYLD in January 2025.
• Objective: To induct one lakh youth without political backgrounds into public life and leadership roles.
• Scale of Participation (2025): About 30 lakh youth participated in the Viksit Bharat Challenge, two lakh essays were submitted, and 3,000 youth leaders engaged directly at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Mechanism of VBYLD:
  • Representation Across the Social Spectrum: Urban and rural youth, students, professionals, innovators, and grassroots leaders participated together.
  • Multi-Stage Idea Refinement: Ideas were refined through quizzes, essays, State dialogues, and national-level engagement.
  • Equal Voice for All Participants: The structure ensured that geography, language, or background did not filter out participation.
• Significance: Provides an institutional platform for youth to contribute ideas and leadership towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

VBYLD 2026 Edition

• Scale and Outreach: VBYLD is expanding from a national platform to one with global resonance, with over 50 lakh youth participating in the first stage of selection.
• Timeline: The 2026 edition is scheduled for January 9–12, 2026.
• Focus Areas (2026): Emphasis on indigenous innovation (Design for Bharat), technology-driven development (Tech for Viksit Bharat), and engagement of the Indian diaspora through diaspora inclusion initiatives.
• National Youth Day Engagement: On 12 January, the Prime Minister will interact directly with youth at Bharat Mandapam. The platform aims to ensure that youth voices shape future policy directions.

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Conclusion

A developed India requires youth who combine confidence to lead with commitment to serve. India’s youth are ready, and institutions must be equally prepared to walk alongside them.

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