Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M Scindia virtually interacted with the 12th batch of students participating in the Ashtalakshmi Darshan Youth Exchange Programme, currently being held at Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, from February 18 to March 3, 2026.
The interaction was attended by the Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, and other senior officials of the Ministry and the North Eastern Council.
The Ashtalakshmi Darshan Youth Exchange Programme is a flagship initiative organised and funded by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region to promote national integration and strengthen bonds among youth from diverse parts of the country. Structured as a 14 day immersive engagement, the programme includes academic sessions, heritage visits, cultural exchanges and community interactions designed to foster deeper understanding of the Northeast.
The initiative envisions participation of 1,280 students in 32 batches drawn from 28 States and Union Territories, with exposure to all eight Northeastern states. Equal participation of boys and girls has been ensured, reflecting the Government’s emphasis on inclusivity and youth empowerment. The 12th batch comprises 20 students each from Jharkhand and Puducherry. So far, 471 students from different states have participated in the programme.
Addressing the students, Jyotiraditya M Scindia said the initiative embodies the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat by creating a meaningful confluence of ideas, cultures and aspirations between the Northeast and the rest of India. Referring to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim as the Ashtalakshmi, he encouraged the students to broaden their understanding of the region’s languages, traditions and developmental potential.
He noted that the participants were midway through their immersive journey and had taken part in Statehood Day celebrations, visited Ita Fort and Ganga Lake, and interacted at Raj Bhavan. Such exposure, he said, offers first hand insights into governance systems, constitutional institutions and the tribal cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh.
Highlighting the economic dimension, the Minister underscored the vast and largely untapped tourism potential of the Northeast, particularly Arunachal Pradesh, and said that tourism can drive employment generation and sustainable development in the region.
Students shared their experiences during the session. Malay Shrivastava, a third year B Tech student from Jharkhand, described the programme as a valuable opportunity and appreciated the environmental consciousness and strong community culture of Arunachal Pradesh. Shradhanjali Mohapatra from Pondicherry University spoke about the sense of peace in the region and the opportunity to engage closely with local communities. Anima Kumari from Jharkhand highlighted the scope for cultural integration through the exchange and expressed her wish to revisit Arunachal Pradesh with her family. Mumtazan Thahmeena from Puducherry admired the sunrise views in what she described as the land of the rising sun, while Ruchika Kumari appreciated the lush greenery and discipline observed among the people.
In his concluding remarks, Jyotiraditya M Scindia commended the enthusiasm of the participants and urged them to share their experiences widely, particularly about the people, traditions and natural beauty of the Northeastern region. He reiterated that the vision of Narendra Modi through the Ashtalakshmi Darshan Youth Exchange Programme is to enable students to experience the authentic culture and spirit of Northeast India and return as ambassadors of unity and integration.
The programme reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening youth engagement, fostering cultural confluence and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 through deeper national integration.
