Lok Sabha Question No. 10 (STARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: National Youth Festival, 2025
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Alok Sharma, Shri Naba Charan Majhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 10 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

National Youth Festival, 2025

- *10.  SHRI ALOK SHARMA: SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- a) the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure participation of marginalized communities, youth from remote areas and Divyang people in the National Youth Festival;
- b) whether the Government has implemented a hybrid model for the National Youth Festival, 2025 by allowing virtual participation to ensure wider engagement;
- c) if so, the details thereof; and
- d) the  details  of  the  arrangements  made  by  the  Government  to organize  the  said  Festival  on  a  large  scale  in  each  State  and particularly in Sidhi and Singrauli districts of the Sidhi Parliamentary Constituency?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  10  FOR  REPLY  ON  03.02.2025 ASKED BY SHRI ALOK SHARMA AND SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI REGARDING NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL, 2025.

- a) National Youth Festival (NYF) is one of the major programmes of National  Programme  for  Youth  and  Adolescent  Development (NPYAD)  Scheme.  This  year,  NYF  had  been  restructured  and called Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD). VBYLD2025 was an effort to broaden the NYF platform and engage with youth more intensively. It was an effort to align with the Prime Minister's Independence Day vision of engaging 1 lakh youth in public affairs, providing them with a national platform to create a meaningful sphere of national development and leadership for a developed India.  In the dialogue, youth were encouraged to write  about  various  aspects  of  Viksit  Bharat.  The  dialogue encouraged them to dream big and work towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

VBYLD-2025 brought together 30 lakh motivated youth nationwide;  a  total  of  around  2500  dynamic  youth  have  been selected  to  participate  in  the  Viksit  Bharat  Young  Leaders Dialogue  2025,  through  a  merit-based,  multi-stage  process, representing India's most vibrant demographic of youth aged 1529.  The presentations emerging out of the dialogue were made before Hon'ble Prime Minister himself. The VBYLD-2025 emerged as a landmark event, fostering the next generation of leaders, innovators and thinkers who will drive India's growth.

A total of around 2500 youth including selected participants of Viksit  Bharat  Track  and  Traditional  Track,  young  innovators, volunteers, etc. became part of VBYLD 2025. Additionally, over 6 Crore  youth  and  others  witnessed  the  event  through  various social media platforms.

- b) Yes, the National Youth Festival, 2025 was conducted in hybrid mode.
- c) Viksit Bharat Challenge, a four-stage competition was conducted for the participation of Youth in the National Youth Festival. First two  stages  of  the  Viksit  Bharat  Challenge  i.e.  Stage  1:  Viksit Bharat Quiz which was held from 25 th  November to 10 th  December 2024 and Stage 2: Viksit Bharat Essay Challenge held from 10 th December to 17 th  December 2024 were conducted through the MyGov  Portal  (virtual  mode).  Later  two  stages  of  the  Viksit Bharat Challenge i.e. Stage 3: Viksit Bhrat PPT Challenge, State level held from 22 nd  December to 30 th  December 2024 and Stage 4:  Viksit  Bharat  Championship at  National Youth Festival held from  10 th   January  to  12 th   January  2025  were  conducted  in physical mode. In addition to this, physical participations were also facilitated from various States/UTs selected through State Youth Festivals. Youth from different States and Union Territories participated in various traditional track events as well as Viksit Bharat Challenge. More than 3 Crore youth and others engaged  themselves  through  various  social  media  platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram during Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
- d) Multiple Steps had been taken by Government to organize the National  Youth  Festival  on  a  large  scale  across  the  country including Sidhi and Singrauli districts are as under:
- I. National  Youth  Festival,  2025:  Viksit  Bharat  Young  Leaders Dialogue  had  2  tracks  namely,  Viksit  Bharat  Challenge  and Traditional Track.
5. II.
6. Viksit Bharat Challenge included four stages:
- i. Stage I: The Viksit Bharat Quiz, a nationwide online event in 12  languages,  tested  knowledge  of  India's  achievements, attracting nearly 30 lakh participants.
- ii. Stage II: The Viksit Bharat Essay, where qualified participants  submitted  essays  on  key  themes  aligned  with "Viksit Bharat 2047".
- iii. Stage III: The Viksit Bharat State Championship Challenge, where  around  9000  youth  participated  and  presented  their ideas through PowerPoint presentations, which were

evaluated by leadership moderators for their ability to lead and collaborate.

- iv.  Stage  IV:  The  Viksit  Bharat  National  Championship  at Bharat  Mandapam  wherein  10  teams  presented  their  ideas based on 10 key themes before the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 12 th  January 2025.
- III. Under traditional track, as a run up to the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders  Dialogue,  District  and  State  Youth  Festivals  were organized  in  various  States/  UTs.  Various  competitions  like Group  Folk  Dance,  Group  Folk  Song,  Science  Mela,  Poetry, Story Writing, Painting, Declamation, etc. were conducted at district  and  winners  were  selected  to  perform  in  the  State Youth Festival. Further, winners of State Youth Festival were selected  to  perform  at  National  level  at  Bharat  Mandapam, New Delhi.
- IV. As per the structure of the event, district level youth festival was organized at District Sidhi from 23 th  to 24 th  December 2024 and at District Singrauli on 26 th December 2024. The programme  was  organized  under  the  collective  efforts  of Sports  and  Youth  Welfare  Department  of  Madhya  Pradesh, Nehru Yuva Kendra,  National  Service  Scheme  and  with  the cooperation of Education Department.

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