New Delhi, September 13 (HS): Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, on Saturday formally launched the second edition of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD-2026) at a press conference held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Dr. Mandaviya said VBYLD is a unique platform where young Indians not only express their ideas but present them directly before Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “This is a true example of youth-led democracy, where vision transforms into voice and voice into impactful action. Today’s youth are not just the future, they are the nation-builders of the present,” he said. He added that VBYLD is not confined to a single event but functions as a continuous, dynamic platform fostering leadership, innovation, and nation-building.
Structure and Process of VBYLD 2026
Youth Affairs Secretary Pallavi Jain Govil detailed the framework for VBYLD 2026. She explained that the journey begins with online quizzes and essay competitions, progresses to state-level presentations, and culminates at the national level in Delhi. The grand finale will be held in January 2026 during the National Youth Festival.
Key additions to the 2026 edition include:
Design for Bharat: A multi-stage national design challenge aligned with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.
Tech for Viksit Bharat – Hack for a Social Cause: A technology-driven hackathon encouraging innovation and solutions for societal impact.
International Participation: For the first time, international youth will be part of the event, including 80 participants from the Ministry of External Affairs’ “Know India Programme” and 20 representatives from BIMSTEC countries.
Competition Tracks
Viksit Bharat Challenge (4 Phases):
Quiz: September 1 – October 15, 2025
Essay Competition: October 23 – November 5, 2025
State-level PPT Challenge: November 24 – December 8, 2025
National Championship, New Delhi: January 10–12, 2026
Cultural & Design Track (3 Phases):
District-level: September 1 – October 31, 2025
State-level: November 10 – December 1, 2025
National-level: January 10–12, 2026
Events in this track will include speech, storytelling, painting, folk music, folk dance, poetry, and innovation. Winning teams from each state and UT in all categories will advance to the national stage.
For the Design for Bharat and Tech for Bharat Hackathon, selected nodal institutions will host state-level competitions leading up to national finals, where around 100 top innovators will compete.
Participation at National Level
The VBYLD 2026 Grand Finale in New Delhi (January 10–12, 2026) will converge nearly 3,000 participants:
-1,500 from the Viksit Bharat Challenge
-1,000 from the Cultural & Design Track
-100 international participants
-400 special invitees
Registrations for the first quiz round are already live on the My Bharat Portal, with October 15 as the deadline.
Legacy of VBYLD 2025
The inaugural edition of VBYLD 2025, launched during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, attracted a historic participation of nearly three million youth across India. It culminated in a national gathering of 3,000 young leaders at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with thousands participating in essays, competitions, and state-level contests. The model has since been hailed as a transformative step in involving youth in the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
