Under the Youth Parliament Programme of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, various Youth Parliament Competitions for the students of Delhi schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Universities/Colleges and Eklavya Model Residential Schools are organized in which more than 5 lakh students have participated so far.  Additionally, for wider participation of citizens including students, especially those living in remote and rural areas, a web-portal of National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) has been developed. More than 1 lakh citizens have participated through this portal. All the educational institutions/groups/citizens/students of the country are eligible to participate in the portal through “Institution Participation” and “Group Participation” for conducting Youth Parliament Sittings and through “Individual Participation” for participation in quiz, based on the theme of ‘Bharatiya Democracy in Action’. The objective of the Youth Parliament Programme is to strengthen the roots of democracy, to inculcate healthy habits of discipline, and tolerance of the views of others and to enable the student community to know about practices and procedures of the Parliament and to enhance their knowledge of the functioning of the Government, Constitutional values and for living their lives in a democratic way.

In the last two financial years, around 600 educational institutions and 35000 students participated in the competition-based Youth Parliament Programme. Further, around 1800 Youth Parliament sittings have been organized wherein more than 66000 students participated through the portal-based Youth Parliament programme.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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SS/ISA

(Release ID: 2157604)