Second Edition of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue to Bring Together Young Leaders from Across India in New Delhi from 9th-12th January

New Delhi: In a major initiative to amplify youth participation in India’s development journey, the Department of Youth Affairs, under the leadership of Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, is organising the second edition of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD 2026) from 09–12 January 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Reimagined from the National Youth Festival, the Dialogue aims to provide a dynamic national platform for young leaders to present innovative ideas and solutions for achieving Viksit Bharat@2047. The event will facilitate meaningful engagement between youth, policymakers, and national and global icons, enabling young leaders to actively contribute to shaping the nation’s future.

VBYLD 2026 aims to nurture youth leadership by providing a national platform for young     people aged 15–29 years to translate their ideas for Viksit Bharat into action. The Dialogue fosters inclusive participation, innovation, and solution-oriented thinking aligned with India’s long-term development vision.

The Viksit Bharat Challenge Track forms the central pillar of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue and is being conducted through a structured four-stage process. The first stage, the Digital Quiz (September–October 2025), hosted on the MY Bharat and MyGov platforms, witnessed participation from more than 50.42 lakh youth from all States and Union Territories.

This was followed by the Essay Challenge (October–November 2025), which received over two lakh submissions across ten national priority themes. The third stage, the State-level Vision Deck (PPT) Challenge (November–December 2025), further shortlisted participants based on their leadership qualities, clarity of vision, and collaborative abilities.

The Challenge Track will culminate in the National Championship during VBYLD 2026, where 1,500 shortlisted young leaders will present their ideas at the grand finale to be held in New Delhi from 9–12 January 2026.

Participants will engage in thematic presentations and competitions focusing on 10 identified themes which are:

• Youth in Democracy and Government for Viksit Bharat
• Women-Led Development: The Key to Viksit Bharat
• Fit Bharat, Hit Bharat
• Making India the Start-Up Capital of the World
• Bharat’s Soft Power: Cultural Diplomacy and Global Influence
• Innovation with Tradition: Building a Modern Bharat
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Make in India, Make for the World
• Enhancing Productivity through Smart and Sustainable Agriculture
• Building a Sustainable and Green Viksit Bharat
• Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Viksit Bharat

Complementing this is the Cultural & Design Track, spanning district, state, and national levels, featuring competitions in declamation, story writing, painting, folk music and dance, poetry, and innovation. The best teams from each State and UT will compete at the national level during VBYLD 2026.

This second edition of VBYLD introduces key new verticals, while retaining the core vision of the first. These include “Design for Bharat,” a national design challenge addressing social, cultural, and economic challenges; “Tech for Viksit Bharat – Hack for a Social Cause,” a multi-stage hackathon promoting technology-driven solutions; and international participation, with youth delegates from the Know India Programme and BIMSTEC nations coming together at Bharat Mandapam.

The culmination of VBYLD 2026 will bring together nearly 3,000 participants, including 1,500 youth from the Viksit Bharat Challenge Track, 1,000 from the Cultural & Design Track, 100 international delegates, and 400 special attendees. Their collective deliberations, presentations, and cultural exchanges will create a vibrant national ecosystem of ideas and commitments, reinforcing youth as key partners in building a Viksit Bharat@2047.

Day-Wise Overview: VBYLD 2026

9^th January 2026:

The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue 2026 will commence with an Orientation Session, setting the tone and direction for the ensuing three days of deliberations, engagement, and collaboration. The session will feature a welcome address by Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, followed by a felicitation of MY Bharat Volunteers in recognition of their contribution to youth engagement initiatives. A keynote address will be delivered by Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, outlining the vision and objectives of the Dialogue.

10th January 2026:

VBYLD 2026 will commence with a Plenary Session, to be graced by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, and Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor, along with senior officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Following the inaugural session, participants will take part in theme-based deliberations across the ten national priority themes, under the guidance of eminent domain experts, practitioners, and public leaders. These deliberations aim to foster solution-oriented discussions, practical insights, and actionable recommendations aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Running concurrently, the Viksit Bharat Exhibition will showcase initiatives from Central Ministries, highlighting opportunities in education, skilling, entrepreneurship, innovation, and culture.

Participants will also visit the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library for a guided tour in the afternoon, gaining insights into India’s leadership and democratic journey.

11th January 2026:

The day will feature ISRO astronauts in an open fireside chat with MY Bharat volunteers, inspiring young minds through their journeys in science, innovation, and national service, and highlighting the role of space technology in building a Viksit Bharat.

The evening will culminate in the “Colors of Viksit Bharat” cultural showcase, a vibrant fusion of traditional and contemporary performances celebrating India’s rich heritage. Eminent cricketer and captain of the Indian National Women’s Cricket Team, Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur, will also grace the event.

Theme-wise presentations to domain experts will also continue during the course of the day.

12th January 2026:

The final day,which is observed as National Youth Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, will mark the defining culmination of the Dialogue. The day will witness the participation of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, underscoring the national significance of the platform and the Government’s commitment to youth-led nation-building. The Prime Minister will interact with the young participants, giving them the opportunity to present their ideas for nation-building directly to the top leadership of the nation.

The programme will feature a Grand Plenary Session led by Prime Minister, including a Town Hall-style interaction with young leaders. This flagship engagement is expected to inspire and energise the youth to actively contribute to India’s transformative journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047.

During the programme, young leaders will deliver ten high-impact presentations, each representing one of the national priority themes, before the Prime Minister and Union Ministers.

The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue 2026 reinforces youth as central stakeholders in India’s development journey. Through dialogue, innovation, and direct engagement with national leadership, the platform advances collective efforts towards achieving Viksit Bharat@2047.