Youth at the Centre of Nation-Building
Emphasising the growing role of young citizens, Sonowal said India’s demographic advantage is one of its greatest strengths. With youth forming the largest segment of the population, he noted that empowering them can decisively change the direction of the nation’s future.
“The strength of India’s youth is the strength of India itself,” the Minister said, adding that young Indians are contributing meaningfully to governance, innovation and social change across sectors.
Legacy of Swami Vivekananda
Paying tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary, which is observed as National Youth Day, Sonowal said the iconic thinker’s ideas continue to resonate strongly with today’s generation. He recalled Vivekananda’s belief that all strength lies within the individual.
Quoting Vivekananda’s famous call to “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached,” Sonowal said the message continues to inspire young Indians to pursue excellence with discipline, purpose and national spirit.
Youth-Centric Governance Since 2014
Sonowal highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, youth empowerment has moved from rhetoric to concrete policy action. Since 2014, he said, young people have been placed at the centre of governance and nation-building.
According to the Minister, this is the first time that the aspirations, skills and ideas of the youth are directly influencing national priorities and policy outcomes.
From Job Seekers to Job Creators
Referring to flagship initiatives, Sonowal said programmes such as Skill India and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana are equipping crores of young Indians with employable and future-ready skills. These initiatives, he noted, are encouraging youth to become job creators rather than job seekers.
Startup India, he added, has fostered a vibrant culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, with young Indians leading startups that are gaining global recognition.
Education, Sports and Digital Empowerment
The Union Minister said the National Education Policy has made learning more practical, multidisciplinary and globally competitive. This, he noted, is helping students adapt to rapidly evolving economic and technological realities.
He also highlighted initiatives such as Khelo India for identifying sporting talent from across the country and providing global exposure, and Digital India for strengthening connectivity and access to opportunities for youth.
Emerging Leaders of a New India
Earlier, Sonowal interacted with students from Assam participating in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026. Describing them as confident and articulate, he said they reflect India’s emerging leadership class.
