National Youth Festival (NYF)-2025 had been restructured and called Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD). VBYLD-2025 was an effort to broaden the NYF platform and engage with youth more intensively. It was an effort to align with the Prime Minister’s Independence Day vision of engaging 1 lakh youth in public affairs, providing them with a national platform to create a meaningful sphere of national development and leadership for a developed India. In the dialogue, youth were encouraged to express about various aspects of Viksit Bharat. The dialogue encouraged them to dream big and work towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The VBYLD-2025 emerged as a landmark event, fostering the next generation of leaders, innovators and thinkers who will drive India’s growth. The presentations emerging out of the dialogue were made before Hon’ble Prime Minister.

 The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 was held during 10th to 12th January, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. A total of around 2500 youth from diverse background selected through a merit-based, multi-stage process, representing India's most vibrant demographic of youth aged 15-29 from Viksit Bharat Track and Traditional Track (Group

folk Dance, Group folk Song, Painting, Declamation, Story Writing, Poetry and Science Exhibition), young innovators, volunteers, etc. became part of VBYLD 2025. The event brought together youth from all States and UTs. Additionally, over 6 Crore youth and others witnessed the event through various social media platforms.

The National Youth Festival, 2025 was conducted in hybrid mode. Viksit Bharat Challenge, a four-stage competition was conducted for the participation of Youth in the National Youth Festival. First two stages of the Viksit Bharat Challenge i.e. Stage 1: Viksit Bharat Quiz which was held from 25th November to 10th December 2024 and Stage 2: Viksit Bharat Essay Challenge held from 10th December to 17th December 2024 were conducted through the MyGov Portal (virtual mode). Later two stages of the Viksit Bharat Challenge i.e. Stage 3: Viksit Bharat PPT Challenge was held at State level from 22nd December to 30th December 2024 and Stage 4: Viksit Bharat Championship at National Youth Festival held from 10th January to 12th January 2025 were conducted in physical mode. In addition to this, physical participations were also facilitated from various States/UTs selected through State Youth Festivals. Youth from different States and Union Territories participated in various traditional track events as well as Viksit Bharat Challenge. More than 3 Crore youth and others engaged themselves through various social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram during Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.

The Ministry collaborated with State/UT Governments, some Universities and partnered with the MyGov portal to conduct the event. As part of this collaboration, the Viksit Bharat Quiz of the Viksit Bharat Challenge was conducted nationwide in 12 languages. The quiz attracted participation from 28,31,200 individuals. For the Traditional Track, District Youth Festivals followed by State Youth Festivals were organized by States/UTs. The selected individuals at the State level participated in the National level round of Traditional Track. Prize money of ₹1,50,000/-, ₹1,00,000/- and ₹75,000/- were conferred to 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners respectively.

This information was given by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

*****

Rini Choudhury

(Release ID: 2150816)