The Department of Youth Affairs implements youth development programmes through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) and National Service Scheme (NSS), which provide avenues for leadership development, skill enhancement, civic engagement and experiential learning in various sectors.

Under MY Bharat, key programmes conducted during FY 2023-24 and 2024-25 include Observance of Days of National and International Importance, Viksit Bharat Ambassador – Yuva Connect, MYBharat–Viksit Bharat@2047 Declamation Contest, National Young Leaders Programme – Neighbourhood Youth Parliament, and National Youth Parliament Festival which is redesigned as Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament.

Further, MY Bharat Portal also provides Experiential Learning Programmes (ELP) in areas such as Police, Postal services, Jan Aushadhi Kendras and Cyber Security to generate entrepreneurship and skill development among youth aged 18-29 years. The Vocational Training – Skills for Success under the Annual Action Plan 2025–26 aims to enhance self-esteem and guide youth to acquire higher-level soft skills, communication skills and life

skills for meaningful employment or self-employment. Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) conducts annual training in life skills, leadership, capacity building, academic programmes and placement drives.

The Government engages youth and volunteers through structured platforms such as NSS and MY Bharat, which mobilise youth across the country for various developmental, social and community-oriented activities. These platforms collaborate with youth clubs, local stakeholders, and volunteers to ensure widespread participation in developmental initiatives.

The Government has implemented several national-level programmes to support employment generation and improve employability. These include the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY). Under the Skill India Mission (SIM), youth receive skill, re-skill, and up-skill training through schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) via Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The Government’s Prime Minister’s Package announced in Budget 2024-25 includes five schemes and initiatives designed to facilitate employment and skilling opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over five years. The National Career Service (NCS) Portal provides job matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, and information on skill-development courses. Additionally, the ASPIRE scheme promotes employment in the agro-sector through Livelihood Business Incubators, imparting skill development training to rural youth, women, and unemployed persons.

MY Bharat and NYKS engage youth from diverse and marginalized backgrounds across districts, blocks and villages. NSS also ensures active participation of rural and marginalized youth through National Integration Camps, Republic Day Parade Camps, National Youth Parliament, National Youth Festival and village adoption programmes that enable youth to contribute to local development.

The Department of Youth Affairs promotes awareness and well-being for youth through NSS, MY Bharat and other programmes. These platforms organise activities such as International Yoga Day, sports events at block and district levels, meditation sessions and health-awareness programmes. NSS also integrates initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the Tele-MANAS helpline to create awareness and promote mental well-being among youth and communities. The Department of Youth Affairs through MY Bharat recognized the detrimental impact of drug addiction and substance abuse on individuals and families and conducted Awareness and Education Programme on Drug-addiction and Substance Abuse across the country during the FY-2024-25.

Further, the Mental Health Care Act, 2017 is an act to provide for mental healthcare and services for persons with mental illness and to protect, promote and fulfil the rights of such persons during delivery of mental healthcare and services and for matter connected therewith or incidental thereto. However, to address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country.

In addition, the Government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on 10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. The Government has also launched a Tele MANAS Mobile Application, a comprehensive mobile platform that has been developed to provide support for mental health issues ranging from well-being to mental disorders. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also formulated our country’s first National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
This information was given by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh

Mandaviya in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Pawan Singh Faujdar

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