Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
NATIONAL YOUTH DAY (JANUARY 12)
Posted On: 11 JAN 2024 1:22PM
“This day is a day of great inspiration for every Indian youth; it is a day for taking new resolutions. On this day, India had received such a zealous entity in the form of Vivekananda that is still energizing our country, constantly inspiring us and showing us the way forward.”
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi[1]
Swami Vivekananda, the great philosopher, thinker and the greatest patron of the youth in India, was born on January 12, 1863 on the Pausha Krishna Saptami Tithi in Kolkata (then Calcutta). Every year since 1985, the Government of India observes January 12, the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, as the National Youth Day and the week commencing from that day, as the National Youth Week. To quote from a Government communication: “it was felt that the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth.”
Under the component ‘Promotion of National Integration’ of National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD), a National Youth Festival is organised during the month of January every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (12 January), which is celebrated as National Youth Day. The Festival is organised in partnership with one of the States/UTs. The expenditure is shared between the Centre and the host State. The Programmes that are organised as part of the Youth Festival include various cultural programmes (both competitive and non-competitive), youth convention, suvichar, exhibitions, adventure programmes, etc. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been celebrating National Youth Festival[2] from January12-16 since 1995.
spotlight - National Youth FESTIVAL 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the National Youth Festival at Nashik, Maharashtra on January 12, 2024. The theme of the National Youth Festival this year is “MYBharat-Viksit Bharat@2047- By the Youth, For the Youth ''.
This year, the National Youth Day will be celebrated by all field organisations of the Department of Youth Affairs in districts in collaboration with multiple Government departments. ‘MY Bharat’ volunteers throughout the country, with support from NSS units, NYKS and many educational institutions will coordinate their energies to carry out activities to volunteer for India. Youth Clubs will also bring their vibrant energy to the celebration, ensuring a truly inclusive atmosphere. More than 88,000 volunteers will participate in the campaign.
During the celebration, various states will showcase cultural programmes of their diverse cultural heritage. Partner Ministers and district-level officers will set up stalls of various exhibitions and awareness drives of various government programmes including traffic awareness, nutrition and diet, products of Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) startups among others.[3] To know more about the National Youth Festival 2024, visit the official website HERE
Volunteers are registered for these events through MY Bharat digital platform. Road safety awareness events will be conducted at major cities and 750 districts headquarters of the country on 12th January. Trained Road Safety volunteers will be flagged off by Central/State Ministers, local MPs or MLAs, marking a commitment to building a safer tomorrow through an intensive campaign. These volunteers will be deployed to assist in handling traffic in traffic choke points and also conduct road safety awareness activities. They will also be visiting Anganwadi centres for story telling sessions for children and will be conducting information dissemination about Government schemes.
Mera YUVA BHARAT (MY BHARAT) INITIATIVE
An autonomous body known as "Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat)” was established after the cabinet decision chaired by the Prime Minister on October 11, 2023. This body is envisioned as a pivotal, technology-driven facilitator for youth development and youth-led development, with the overarching goal of providing equitable opportunities to empower the youth in realizing their aspirations and contributing to the creation of a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India), across the entire spectrum of the Government.
National Youth Policy-2014
The vision of NYP-2014 is to empower youth to achieve their full potential, and through them enable India to find its rightful place in the community of nations. The Policy identifies five well-defined objectives and 11 priority areas. The priority areas are education, skill development and employment, entrepreneurship, health and healthy lifestyle, sports, promotion of social values, community engagement, participation in politics and governance, youth engagement, inclusion and social justice.[4]
The Government has reviewed the existing National Youth Policy, 2014 and prepared a new draft of National Youth Policy (NYP), which has been placed in the public domain.[5] The draft NYP envisages a ten-year vision for youth development that India seeks to achieve by 2030. It is aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and serves to ‘unlock the potential of youth to advance India’.
Celebrating India’s Youth
- National Youth Awards
National Youth Awards are conferred every year on young individuals and NGOs for excellent work done for nation-building / community service. A cash award of Rs.40,000, a medal and a certificate of honour is given to each individual awardee. The award to voluntary youth organisations comprises a certificate, a medal and an amount of Rs.2,00,000. To see objectives, description and conditions of eligibility for the National Youth Awards, Click Here.
- National Youth Parliament Festival
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched the National Youth Parliament Festival on January 11, 2019. The idea was to take the Youth Festival to each district of the country and celebrate it as the “National Youth Parliament Festival.” The objective of National Youth Parliament Festival is to hear the voice of the youth between 18 and less than 25 years of age, who will join various careers in coming years, including public services. National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) is based on the idea given by Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat Address on December 31, 2017.
The first NYPF 2019 was organized from January 12 to February 27, 2019 at District, State & National level with the theme “Be the Voice of New India and Find solutions and Contribute to Policy.” A total of 88,000 youth participated in the program. 56 State Awardees and 728 finalists from 28 States participated in National Youth Parliament on February 26, 2019 at New Delhi. On 27th February, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded the top three winners of the first National Youth Parliament Festival, who also got an opportunity to share their thoughts in presence of the Prime Minister.
District Youth Parliaments were organized through virtual mode at 150 District Venues in which 698 Districts (both NYK Districts and Non-District NYKs) from 36 States and UTs in which a total of 2,34,428 youth participated.
State Youth Parliaments were organized through virtual mode with the total participation of 1345 youth. 84 State level Winners from each State took part in the National Youth Parliament at Delhi on 11 & 12 January, 2021.
The three best speakers at the national level were awarded Rs. 2 lakhs, Rs. 1.50 lakhs and Rs. 1 lakh respectively along with a certificate of merit. Every participant was given a certificate of participation. The prizes and certificates of merit were given away by Shri Om Birla, Speaker of Lok Sabha.
Prime Minister had addressed the attendees of the National Youth Parliament Festival 2021, on 12 January, 2021. He had lauded the winners and final panellists of the second National Youth Parliament Festival.
The third edition of NYPF was launched on February 14, 2022 at District level through virtual mode. More than 2.44 lakh youth across the country participated in the District Youth Parliaments followed by State Youth Parliaments through virtual mode from 23rd – 27th February, 2022.
Eighty-Seven (87) winners (62 Female and 25 Male) from States/ UTs got an opportunity to be present in the Central Hall of Parliament before the Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Hon’ble Minister of State of Youth Affairs & Sports and other dignitaries.
Twenty-Nine (29) winners of State Youth Parliament (SYP) got an opportunity to speak before the National Jury comprising of Sh. Bhartruhari Mahtab, Member of Parliament Lok Sabha, Dr. Satya Pal Singh, Member of Parliament Lok Sabha, Smt. Anu J Singh, IRS (Retd.) and Sh. Kanchan Gupta, Senior Adviser M/o Information & Broadcasting.[6]
The 4th edition of National Youth Parliament Festival, 2023 was launched with the theme “Ideas for a Better tomorrow: India for the World”. District Youth Parliaments were conducted from 25th to 29th January 2023. More than 2.01 Lakh youth from 748 Districts of all States and UTs participated at 150 venues across the country. The 1st and 2nd position holder of District Youth Parliament (DYP) participated from 3rd to 7th February, 2023 at State Youth Parliament Festival.
3. National Youth Festival
The National Youth Festival in India is an annual gathering of youth with various activities including competitive ones. Celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of youth icon Swami Vivekananda, it is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India in collaboration with one of the State Governments. Thus, it is held in collaboration with a different state/UT during National Youth Week, 12 to 16 January, every year.
The objective is to bring youth of the country together to showcase their talents; provide them an arena by creating a mini-India, where they interact in formal and informal settings and exchange their social and cultural uniqueness. It is also to promote National Integration, spirit of communal harmony, brotherhood, courage and adventure.
Like the National Youth Festival, States are also encouraged to hold state level, district level and block level youth festivals in the same format as that of the National Youth Festival. The centre of the festival focuses on cultural aspects and a number of other programmes covering a wide variety of activities, which not only reflect the spirit of friendship but also peace and development. The festival also provides a nationwide exposure to the youth for the expression and fulfilment of their cultural talents and aspirations. It is a platform where the youth come together to exchange their diverse experiences and the oneness which binds them together.
1st National Youth Festival
The first National Youth Festival was held in 1995 in Bhopal as a major activity under the programme of National Integration Camp (NIC).
26th National Youth Festival 2023
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the 26th National Youth Festival in Hubbali, Karnataka on January 12, 2023. The programme was organised on National Youth Day, which is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, to honour and cherish his ideals, teachings and contributions. The theme of the festival was ‘Viksit Yuva - Viksit Bharat’ and it brings diverse cultures from all parts of the country on a common platform and unites the participants in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. Karnataka Governor Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Karnataka Chief Minister Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur; Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri Prahlad Joshi, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri S. Nisith Pramanik were among other dignitaries present on the occasion.[7]
CONCLUSION
The Government of India has embarked on the mission of building a united, strong and modern India to fulfil the vision of the great thinkers like Vivekananda. From “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”, to the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”, they reflect the ideals and vision of Vivekananda. These slogans reflect the commitment of the people, particularly of the youth, to take the nation to new heights. A number of path-breaking initiatives have been introduced recently. ‘Make in India’ campaign has been launched to develop India as a global manufacturing hub. ‘Digital India’ initiative seeks to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. ‘Skill India’ has been launched to impart necessary skills to prepare Indians for the opportunities in Indian Economy and the opportunities available abroad. A number of initiatives, including Smart Cities Project, have been launched for developing infrastructure. ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ and ‘Clean Ganga’ Mission have been launched for building a clean and green India. The flagship initiative ‘Startup India’ has found great favour among the youth for nurturing Start-ups in the country through innovation and design leading to large scale employment generation.
All these initiatives of the Government require active involvement and support of youth as they are the major stakeholders of future of this country. Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is the flagship programme to put India on the road to become developed nation. Government is making huge efforts to invest in the youth of the country because it is imperative in the ambitious task of building a modern and prosperous India. As Swami Vivekananda once exhorted, “Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached”, the youth of India must unite and work for the country with purity, patience, and perseverance as the Swami felt long ago that these three are the essentials to success.
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