VIKSIT BHARAT YOUNG LEADERS DIALOGUE 2026
VBYLD-2026 | National Youth Festival | 9–12 January 2026 | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 — a restructured format of the National Youth Festival commemorating Swami Vivekananda's 164th birth anniversary — brought together India's most dynamic youth to dream, deliberate and design solutions for the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The Hon’ble Prime Minister graced the concluding session on 12th January 2026, engaging directly with youth on their ideas and innovations.
| 50 Lakh+ | Youth reached via Viksit Bharat Quiz |
| 39,463 | Essay Entries |
| 3000 | Young leaders selected nationally |
FIVE SELECTION TRACKS
- Viksit Bharat Challenge — Quiz (50 lakh+ participants, 12 languages) → Essay (39,463 entries) → State Championship (12,219 participants) → National Championship, with 10 teams presenting before the Hon’ble PM.
- Traditional Track — District and State Youth Festivals in folk dance, folk song, poetry, painting and declamation, culminating at the national event.
- Design for Bharat — Youth innovation challenge with School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi as knowledge partner; 3,482 registrations, 429 submissions, 24 national finalist teams.
- Hack for Social Cause — National tech challenge with IIT Bombay as knowledge partner; 1,819 registrations, 126 submissions, 24 finalist teams.
- Diaspora Youth Participation — 78 diaspora youth engaged for the first time via MEA's Know India Programme, strengthening their connection to India's growth story.
CONCLUDING CEREMONY HIGHLIGHTS
- PM's visit to the Welcome Gallery, showcasing innovative youth-led projects from the Hack for Social Cause and Design for Bharat tracks.
- Presentations by youth teams across 10 thematic tracks on Viksit Bharat 2047, followed by the PM's reflections and guidance.
- Virtual launch of the Essay Compilation Book featuring selected essays from national challenge finalists.
IMPACT
VBYLD-2026 emerged as a flagship national youth engagement platform — integrating dialogue, leadership development and participatory governance, and laying a strong foundation for empowered, responsible and visionary young leaders driving India towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
