Governor of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. R.N. Ravi, today (06 January 2026) interacted with the 83-member youth delegation from Tamil Nadu selected for the national level finale of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026. The event, held at Lok Bhavan, Chennai, served as a formal send-off for the delegates who will represent the state at the National Youth Festival in New Delhi from January 9–12, 2026.

Addressing the young leaders, Governor R.N. Ravi emphasized that India is a 5,000-year-old civilization country that historically led the world in economy and innovation. He called for a decolonization of the Indian mind, urging the youth to move beyond imitating Western models and instead foster indigenous innovation rooted in Indian values. The Governor highlighted that the Amrit Generation must leverage emerging fields such as Deep Tech, Nanotechnology, and Quantum Technologies, noting that Tamil Nadu’s robust infrastructure and talent pool uniquely position it to become a global hub for these future-ready industries.

In an intimate session with the delegates, the Governor shared practical wisdom for personal and national growth, noting that success is a result of consistent discipline and rigorous time management. He spoke on the importance of remaining a lifelong student in a rapidly evolving technological landscape and emphasized that a Fit Bharat serves as the vital foundation of a Hit Bharat. Furthermore, he highlighted organic farming and sustainable practices as essential avenues for the economic empowerment of small-scale farmers across the country.

 

Shri S. Senthilkumar, State Director, MY Bharat Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, welcomed the gathering and thanked the Governor for his unwavering support. He revealed that over 4 lakh participants from Tamil Nadu engaged in the multi-stage VBYLD contest, ranging from digital quizzes to state-level presentations, making it one of the most active states in the country. He noted that the program has been instrumental in channelizing the energy of the youth toward national policy-making.

The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is a premier national initiative aimed at identifying and mentoring young talent between the ages of 15 and 29 to contribute to the vision of a Developed India by 2047. These 83 delegates were selected after four rigorous rounds including the Viksit Bharat Quiz, an Essay Round on ten national themes, and State-level Vision Deck presentations. The delegation will now join 3,000 youth from across India at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to present their actionable ideas directly to the Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi on January 12 in celebration of National Youth Day.

Earlier today, the 'MY Bharat' State Director for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Shri S. Senthilkumar, in a press conference held at Press Information Bureau, Chennai briefed the media on the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD). He detailed the upcoming National Youth Festival at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, held in honor of Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary.

This event serves as the culmination of the VBYLD, a massive initiative that saw over 4.20 lakh participants from Tamil Nadu alone. Out of these, 83 youth delegates were selected through a rigorous process of digital quizzes, essays, and presentations to represent the state's talent and vision on a national stage.

The festival features a high-impact itinerary designed to bridge the gap between youth and national leadership, including interactive sessions with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, ISRO scientists, and top athletes. The program concludes on January 12, National Youth Day, with a keynote address and direct interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This engagement focuses on harvesting actionable ideas for a "Viksit Bharat 2047," emphasizing Tamil Nadu's leading role in channeling youth energy into formal national policy-making and long-term development goals.

***

AD/EA/SH

 

(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2211856) आगंतुक पटल : 166