Lok Sabha Question No. 1283 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Promotion of Youth Development Programmes
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

## Government of India

## Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1283

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## Promotion of Youth Development Programmes

1283. Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre:

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

- (a) the details of the schemes that focus on skill development, leadership, and entrepreneurship for youth;
- (b) the manner in which the Government engage with youth organizations and volunteers;
- (c) the details of the programmes to address employment challenges faced by young people;
- (d)  the  manner  in  which  rural  and  marginalized  youth  are  being  included  in development  initiatives; and
- (e)  whether there are special initiatives to promote mental health and wellbeing among youth?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) The Department of Youth Affairs implements youth development programmes  through  Mera  Yuva  Bharat  (MY  Bharat)  and  National  Service Scheme  (NSS),  which  provide  avenues  for  leadership  development,  skill enhancement, civic engagement and experiential learning in various sectors. Under MY Bharat, key programmes conducted during FY 2023-24 and 2024-25 include Observance of Days of National and International Importance, Viksit

Bharat Ambassador -Yuva Connect, MYBharat-Viksit Bharat@2047 Declamation  Contest,  National  Young  Leaders  Programme  -  Neighbourhood Youth Parliament, and National Youth Parliament Festival which is redesigned as Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament.

Further, MY Bharat Portal also provides Experiential Learning Programmes  (ELP)  in  areas  such  as  Police,  Postal  services,  Jan  Aushadhi Kendras and Cyber Security to generate entrepreneurship and skill development among youth aged 18-29 years. The Vocational Training - Skills for Success under the Annual Action Plan 2025-26 aims to enhance self-esteem and guide youth to acquire higher-level soft skills, communication skills and life skills  for  meaningful  employment  or  self-employment.  Rajiv  Gandhi  National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) conducts annual training in life skills, leadership, capacity building, academic programmes and placement drives.

- (b) The  Government  engages  youth  and  volunteers  through  structured platforms such as NSS and MY Bharat, which mobilise youth across the country for  various  developmental,  social  and  community-oriented  activities.  These platforms collaborate with youth clubs, local stakeholders, and volunteers to ensure widespread participation in developmental initiatives.
- (c) The Government has implemented several national-level programmes to support employment generation and improve employability. These include the Prime  Minister's  Employment  Generation  Programme  (PMEGP),  Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Rural Self Employment and Training  Institutes  (RSETIs),  Deendayal  Antyodaya  Yojana  -  National  Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).

Under the Skill India Mission (SIM), youth receive skill, re-skill, and upskill training through schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY),  Jan  Shikshan  Sansthan  (JSS),  National  Apprenticeship  Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) via Industrial Training Institutes  (ITIs).  The  Government's  Prime  Minister's  Package  announced  in Budget  2024-25  includes  five  schemes  and  initiatives  designed  to  facilitate employment and skilling opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over five years.

The National Career Service (NCS) Portal provides job matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, and information on skill-development courses. Additionally, the ASPIRE scheme promotes employment in the agrosector  through  Livelihood  Business  Incubators,  imparting  skill  development training to rural youth, women, and unemployed persons.

- (d) MY  Bharat  and  NYKS  engage  youth  from  diverse  and  marginalized backgrounds  across  districts,  blocks  and  villages.  NSS  also  ensures  active participation  of  rural  and  marginalized  youth  through  National  Integration Camps, Republic Day Parade Camps, National Youth Parliament, National Youth Festival and village adoption programmes that enable youth to contribute to local development.
- (e) The Department of Youth Affairs promotes awareness and well-being for youth through NSS, MY Bharat and other programmes. These platforms organise activities such as International Yoga Day, sports events at block and district levels,  meditation  sessions  and  health-awareness  programmes.  NSS  also integrates initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the Tele-MANAS helpline to create awareness and promote mental well-being among youth and communities. The Department of Youth Affairs through MY Bharat recognized the detrimental impact of drug addiction and substance abuse on individuals and  families  and  conducted  Awareness  and  Education  Programme  on  Drugaddiction and Substance Abuse across the country during the FY-2024-25.

Further, the Mental Health Care Act, 2017 is an act to provide for mental healthcare and services for persons with mental illness and to protect, promote and fulfil the rights of such persons during delivery of mental healthcare and services and for matter connected therewith or incidental thereto. However, to address the burden of mental disorders, the Government  of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country.

In addition, the Government has launched a 'National Tele Mental Health Programme' on 10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. The Government has also launched a Tele MANAS Mobile Application, a comprehensive mobile platform that has been developed to provide support for mental health issues ranging from well-being to mental disorders. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also formulated our country's first National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

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