Lok Sabha Question No. 1555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Tejasvi Surya

## Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Youth Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1555 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026

1555. Shri Tejasvi Surya:

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

- (a) the details of the total number of youth participated in the Viksit
- Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026;
- (b) the details of the various tracks and themes under VBYLD 2026 along with the number of participants under each track and theme;
- (c) the details of the number of participants from the North Eastern States, State-wise, Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Ladakh;
- (d) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of the impact  of  VBYLD  2026  in  promoting  social  cohesion,  cultural understanding and national unity among participating youth and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the steps taken by the Government to improve and enhance  VBYLD  2026  in  terms  of  scale,  inclusivity,  content  and outcomes as compared to VBYLD 2025?

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## ANSWER [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]

(a) Youth from all over India participated under five different tracks of  National  Youth  Festival  (NYF):  Viskit  Bharat  Young  Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026. The Viksit Bharat Quiz, first stage of Viksit Bharat Challenge Track was hosted on the MY Bharat and MyGov platforms and witnessed participation from more than 50 lakh youth from  all  States  and  Union  Territories.  Thereafter,  39,463  youth submitted  Essays  through  MY  Bharat  Portal.  Out  of  which,  3,370

youth  participated  in  the  PPT  Challenge  at  the  State  level  and selected youth got an opportunity to participate in the Viskit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue  (VBYLD)  2026  held  at  Bharat  Mandapam, New Delhi during 9 th  -12 th  January, 2026.

(b) NYF: VBYLD 2026 was structured across multiple tracks aimed at leadership  development,  innovation,  cultural  exchange  and  youth participation.  The  major  tracks  and  number  of  participants  at National level event of NYF: VBYLD 2026 under each track are as follows:

| Name of Track                     | No. of Participants               |
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Viksit Bharat Challenge Track1164 | Viksit Bharat Challenge Track1164 |
| Cultural and Innovation Track 970 | Cultural and Innovation Track 970 |
| Design for Bharat Track           | 38                                |
| Hack for a Social Cause Track57   | Hack for a Social Cause Track57   |
| Diaspora Youth                    | 78                                |
| Total                             | 2307                              |

Under Viksit Bharat Challenge track there were 10 themes. Theme wise  participation  at  national  level  of  NYF  2026:  VBYLD  are  as follows:

| Theme                                                                          | No. of                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Make in India, Make for the World                         | 114                                                     |
| Bharat's Soft Power: Cultural Diplomacy and Global Influence for Viksit Bharat | 120                                                     |
| Building a future-ready workforce for Viksit Bharat 120                        | Building a future-ready workforce for Viksit Bharat 120 |
| Building a Sustainable and Green Viksit Bharat                                 | 110                                                     |
| Enhancing Productivity through Smart Sustainable Agriculture                   | and 114                                                 |
| Fit Bharat Hit Bharat 100                                                      | Fit Bharat Hit Bharat 100                               |
| Innovation with Tradition: Building a Modern Bharat                            | 117                                                     |
| Making India the Start-Up Capital of the World                                 | 108                                                     |
| Women Led Development: The Key to Viksit Bharat                                | 124                                                     |
| Youth in Democracy and Government for Viksit Bharat                            | 137                                                     |
| Total                                                                          | 1164                                                    |

(c) The details of participants from the North Eastern States, Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Ladakh at national level event of NYF 2026: VBYLD are given below:

| Region                                                  | State / Union Territory                                 | Total Number   | of   |
|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|----------------|------|
|                                                         |                                                         | Participants   |      |
| North Eastern States                                    | Arunachal Pradesh                                       | 44             |      |
| North Eastern States                                    | Assam                                                   | 66             |      |
| North Eastern States                                    | Manipur                                                 | 45             |      |
| North Eastern States                                    | Meghalaya                                               | 51             |      |
| North Eastern States                                    | Mizoram                                                 | 33             |      |
| North Eastern States                                    | Nagaland                                                | 34             |      |
| North Eastern States                                    | Sikkim                                                  | 54             |      |
| North Eastern States                                    | Tripura                                                 | 64             |      |
| Jammu and Kashmir                                       | Jammu and Kashmir                                       | 54             |      |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Andaman and Nicobar Islands Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 48             |      |
| Ladakh                                                  | Ladakh                                                  | 32             |      |

- (d)  Viksit  Bharat  Young  Leaders  Dialogue  (VBYLD)  2026  promotes social  cohesion,  cultural  understanding  and  national  unity  among participating  youth  through  its  inclusive  and  participatory  design. The programme brings together youth from diverse regions, socioeconomic backgrounds and disciplines through a pan-India selection process, enabling meaningful interaction and collaboration. Structured thematic deliberations, group-based activities and innovation tracks encourage collective problem-solving on national priorities, fostering a shared sense of purpose. Cultural exchanges and exposure to diverse perspectives strengthen mutual respect and understanding,  while  joint  engagements  with  national  leaders  and experts  reinforce  a  common  national  vision.  Collectively,  these elements help build unity in diversity and strengthen the sense of national integration among participating youth. However, no assessment of the impact of VBYLD 2026 has been carried out.
- (e) Compared to VBYLD 2025, the Government significantly expanded and recalibrated VBYLD 2026 in terms of scale, inclusivity, content and outcomes. While VBYLD 2025 focused primarily on national-level youth challenges and cultural engagements through a district-Statenational competitive framework, VBYLD 2026 retained this structure but enlarged its scope with the addition of three new tracks.  The

content framework evolved from being largely challenge- and culturecentric in 2025 to a more solution-oriented and future-ready platform in 2026 through the introduction of dedicated design and technology innovation tracks aligned with national priorities. The Viksit Bharat Quiz which was first stage of Viksit Bharat Challenge Track, hosted on the MY Bharat and MyGov platforms, witnessed participation from more than 50 lakh youth from all States and Union Territories.

Under this expanded framework, Design for Bharat track, Hack for a Social Cause and Diaspora Youth Participation were introduced for the first time in VBYLD 2026.

Design  for  Bharat  track  enabled  youth  to  promote  design-led innovative  solutions  through  a  structured,  multi-tier  competition involving  design  institutions  across  States  and  Union  Territories, culminating in national-level participation. Hack for a Social Cause track enabled youth engagement in developing technology-driven and implementable solutions to critical social challenges, supported by a structured  pipeline  for  mentorship,  prototyping,  pilot  funding  and incubation.

Further,  Diaspora  Youth  track  was  incorporated  to  systematically engage  Indian  diaspora  youth  and  leverage  their  global  exposure, innovation and best practices for nation-building under Viksit Bharat@2047.

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