The interaction included 52 students from J&K and 31 from Ladakh, who are participating in national-level tracks such as the Viksit Bharat Challenge Track and the Cultural and Innovation Track. Dr. Singh personally met each participant, exploring their aspirations and encouraging them to contribute actively to India’s development journey.
Highlighting the significance of youth engagement, the Minister said, “The energy of J&K and Ladakh youth reflects the changing narrative of New India. This novel experiment, conceptualised by PM Narendra Modi, has made the youth partners in India’s development journey.”
National Integration and Cultural Exchange
Dr. Singh emphasised that platforms like VBYLD go beyond a festival, serving as nation-building exercises where creativity, leadership, and collaboration converge. He encouraged participants to appreciate India’s diversity, interact with peers from across the country, and present youth-led solutions spanning innovation, governance, and social development.
He further noted the pivotal role of J&K and Ladakh youth in strengthening national integration and cultural unity, urging them to represent their regions with distinction and return as ambassadors of positive change under the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and Viksit Bharat.
Looking Ahead: Prime Minister Interaction
The three-day national youth festival at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, will culminate on National Youth Day, January 12, with an opportunity for the youth contingents to engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary and aims to inspire young leaders to take proactive roles in India’s progress toward 2047.