The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will launch the second phase of the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme in Delhi beginning 9 March 2026, expanding efforts to engage young citizens in the national vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The initiative, implemented through Mera Yuva Bharat, aims to strengthen youth participation in nation building through dialogue, leadership engagement and volunteer driven activities.
The expanded programme will cover more than 35 colleges across the national capital and is expected to involve over 10,000 students in interactive sessions and engagement activities. The initiative seeks to create a stronger institutional network for youth participation while encouraging students to contribute ideas and perspectives related to India’s long term development goals.
The programme builds on the response received during the first phase conducted in 2025. Officials said the earlier phase generated significant participation from students and institutions across the country, demonstrating the enthusiasm of young citizens to actively engage with national development initiatives.
So far, the programme has reached 274 universities and colleges across 22 states and union territories. During these sessions, 274 Youth Icons interacted directly with students, mobilising nearly 20,000 young participants through discussions, presentations and engagement programmes.
The second phase in Delhi is expected to significantly expand the scale of participation in the national capital. By covering a large number of educational institutions, the programme aims to strengthen youth engagement and create opportunities for structured dialogue between young citizens and emerging youth leaders.
Several leading educational institutions in Delhi will host the programme. Participating colleges include Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, Don Bosco Institute of Technology in Okhla and Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Technology along with a number of other prominent colleges in the city.
The sessions will be led by Youth Icons who have distinguished themselves in national youth initiatives. These include presenters from the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, winners of the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament and other young achievers who have demonstrated leadership and innovation in various youth programmes.
During the sessions, these youth leaders will interact directly with students and share their experiences of contributing to national development initiatives. The interactions are designed to inspire young citizens to participate actively in the process of nation building and to strengthen the role of youth in shaping India’s future.
The programme will also feature Yuva Samvad sessions where students will have the opportunity to share their ideas, aspirations and perspectives regarding India’s development journey. These dialogues are intended to create a participatory platform where youth voices can contribute to policy discussions and social initiatives aligned with the goal of building a developed and self reliant India.
Officials said the initiative reflects the broader vision of encouraging Jan Bhagidari, or people’s participation, in national development programmes. By bringing together youth leaders and students, the programme aims to create a collaborative environment where young citizens can discuss challenges, propose solutions and participate in development oriented initiatives.
In addition to interactive sessions, MY Bharat registration and awareness stalls will be set up in participating institutions. These stalls will encourage students to join the MY Bharat platform and become part of volunteer driven activities that contribute to social and developmental programmes.
The MY Bharat digital platform will facilitate registration and participation for students interested in joining the initiative. Through the platform, young citizens can access information about volunteer opportunities, youth engagement programmes and national initiatives aimed at strengthening civic participation.
Officials noted that the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme is designed to connect young minds with the country’s long term development agenda. By creating platforms for dialogue, leadership interaction and collaborative participation, the initiative aims to empower youth to become active partners in building an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The expansion of the programme in Delhi marks another step toward strengthening youth engagement in national development efforts while harnessing the energy and ideas of the country’s young population.
