Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is all about “Of the Youth, By the Youth, and For the Youth”: Dr Mansukh Mandaviya

New Delhi: The Department of Youth Affairs successfully kicked off Day 2 of the ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’ at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event began with a grand inaugural session attended by Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Khadse, Shri Anand Mahindra, Smt. Palki Sharma, Shri S. Somnath, Shri Pawan Goenka, Shri Amitabh Kant and Shri Ronnie Screwvala. The ceremony opened with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by a floral tribute to Swami Vivekananda, whose enduring ideals continue to inspire the nation’s youth.

Speaking during the inaugural session, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya delivered the welcome speech, commending the youth volunteers of My Bharat Platform for organizing this reimagined NationalYouth Festival on such a grand scale. He began by paying tribute to Swami Vivekananda, whose timeless teachings and visionary ideals continue to inspire and empower the youth of India and the world. Dr.Mandaviya highlighted the rigorous, merit-based multi-level selection process through which 3,000 talented young leaders were chosen from a pool of over 30 lakh participants.

“There was a Narendra who illuminated the path for the youth, and today, there is another Narendra who continues to inspire them,” stated Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. He went on to highlight Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s transformative vision for the nation’s future, emphasizing the crucial role of youth in shaping India’s destiny. Union Minister elaborated, “Prime Minister Modi is dedicated to empowering the youth of India, with a goal of cultivating 1 lakh youth leaders from all corners of the country—leaders who have no political background but are driven by a deep sense of purpose and commitment to nation-building.”

He continued by emphasizing the event’s core message: “This event is all about – Of the Youth, By the Youth, and For the Youth.” He urged the young leaders present to commit themselves fully to the nation building, encouraging them to bring their passion, creativity, and vision to the forefront over the next two days. “This is your moment to step up,” he stated, “to actively engage, collaborate, and contribute towards the realization of a Viksit Bharat.

The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by the Union Minister of State, Smt. Raksha Khadse. In her address, she expressed sincere gratitude to all the youth participants for their enthusiasm and active involvement. Smt. Khadse encouraged the youth to continue their hard work and dedication, inspiring them to remain focused on building a brighter and more prosperous future for the nation.

The event continued with a captivating conversation between Ms. Palki Sharma and Mr. Anand Mahindra, where Mr. Mahindra defined AI as “Audacity and Integrity” – qualities essential for young leaders. He urged them to think big, uphold ethics, and view failure as a stepping stone. Mr. Mahindra emphasized that “purpose and profit can coexist” and stressed the importance of entrepreneurship in nation-building. He also proposed a platform for connecting young leaders with mentors. Highlighting technology as a “key tool for upskilling,” he called for holistic decision-making and encouraged youth to “make manufacturing great again.”

After the plenary session, participants proceeded to their assigned locations for presentations and interactive sessions on ten identified themes.Mentors led the presentations, providing insights and context on their respective themes, while renowned domain area experts in those tracks offered their knowledge and expertise. This setup fostered an engaging environment for participants to delve deeper into specific topics, gain valuable perspectives, and engage in meaningful discussions with the experts. The themes are as follows:

1. Empowering Youth For Viksit Bharat

This track had discussions on how to empower Yuva Shakti for fulfilling the vision of Viksit Bharat. Jury members, Sh. Ronnie Screwvala (Indian entrepreneur and Investor) and Sh. Anand Kumar(Super 30), led the session.

2. Empowering Women and Enhancing Social Indicators

This track focused on the Prime Minister’s initiatives for empowering Nari Shakti and was led by the domain area experts like Smt. Raksha Khadse (Minister of State, Youth Affairs and Sports), Smt. Kalpana Saroj (Entrepreneur) and Smt. Chhavi Rajawat (Sarpanch, Soda, Rajasthan).

3. Tech for Viksit Bharat

In a thought-provoking conversation with the domain area expert Shri. Pratyush Kumar, founder of Sarvam AI, the theme “Tech for Viksit Bharat” emerged as a cornerstone for India’s journey toward a developed nation.

4. Advancing India as a Global Manufacturing Powerhouse

The event emphasized India’s vision to become a global manufacturing powerhouse, led by domain area experts like Dr Pawan Goenka,Chairperson, IN-SPACe and Shri Aniket Deb, Founder,Bizongo. Highlighting manufacturing as the cornerstone of a “Viksit Bharat,” they urged young leaders to transform into global ambassadors.

5. Making India the Startup Capital of the World

The young leaders presented various ideas to make India – Startup capital of world to domain experts, Mr. Ritesh Agarwal, Co-Founder, OYO and Mr. Nitin Saluja, Co-Founder, Chaayos.

6. Making India a Sporting and FIT Nation

This theme aims to achieve a Healthy and active India by 2047, and to become a global powerhouse in the field of sports with initiatives like Fit India movement, Khelo India Programme.The domain area experts, Shri Bhaichung Bhutia, Indian former Footballer and Shri Suhail Narain, Founder, Hudlelistened to the innovative ideas of the youth.

7. Enhancing Productivity in Agriculture

The event highlighted sustainable farming and innovative solutions led by experts, Shri Ashish Mishra, founder of Krishi Network, and Dr. Sarita Ahlawat, founder & MD,Botlab Dynamics. It focused on transformative technologies to boost productivity and empower India’s agriculture sector.

8. Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi

In thistheme, the panel, featuring Palki Sharma (Editor, First Post), Janhvi Singh (Spiritual Content Creator), and Romalo Ram Dogri (Folk Musician), discussed how the youth of India can strike a balance between progress and the preservation of cultural heritage while contributing to the nation’s development.

9. Steering India Towards a Sustainable Future

The session focused on steering India toward a sustainable future, with insights from domain experts Mr. OP Choudhary, Finance Minister of Chhattisgarh, and Mr. Malhar Kalambe(National Creator Award Winner and Environmentalist).

10. Building the Infrastructure for the Future

Infrastructure being the backbone towards the road of nation building. The domain expert Amitabh Kant (Former CEO of NITI AYOG) and Dr. S. Somnath (Chairman of ISRO) emphasized the vital role of infrastructure in achieving “Viksit Bharat”.

Further at Bharat Mandapam,the Viksit Bharat Exhibition showcased and highlighted youth-focused initiatives from State and Central Ministries, offering interactive experiences in education, skill development, entrepreneurship, and culture. Further, selected youth representatives from the various States presented their ground breaking innovation projects.

After an eventful day, the evening’s highlight was the spectacular “Colors of Viksit Bharat” cultural programme, a vibrant celebration that beautifully showcased India’s rich cultural heritage. The event was graced with the presence of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and International Cricketer Mr. Jonty Rhodes.

“If you dare to try you can achieve every thing you dream” said Jonty Rhodes in the Colours of Viksit Bharat Cultural programme in Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. Appreciating India’s cultural diversity, he stated that “India will be a developed nation in coming years and the light of India will spread in every direction of the world.”

This immersive event featured an awe-inspiring fusion of traditional performances, highlighting the diverse cultural tapestry of India. The show signified the essence of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” by emphasizing the country’s cultural diversity, unity, and progress. From folk dances to classical music, this cultural extravaganza mesmerized the audience, symbolizing the seamless integration of India’s historical legacy with its aspirations of becoming a Viksit Bharat.

National Youth Day: January 12

On the occasion of National Youth Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will participate in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 on 12th January, at around 10 AM, at Bharat Mandapam.