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The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is organising a visit of a Young Leaders’ Delegation from Nepal comprising 10-12 members representing various political parties of Nepal from 3rd to 12th August 2025. The visit spans New Delhi, Pune and Mumbai, aimed at fostering greater political and youth-level engagement.

As part of this visit, a Youth Leaders’ Roundtable Conference was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), Government of India and Observer Research Foundation (ORF), on 5th August 2025 at Bhaskara Conference Hall, Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The Roundtable Conference was chaired by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, and attended by young Members of Parliament from India, who interacted with the Nepali Young Leaders’ Delegation.

The Roundtable Conference centred on the theme “The Role of Youth Exchanges and Sports in Indo-Nepal Bilateral Relations”, and provided a vibrant platform for dialogue between emerging political leaders of both nations. The exchange focused on promoting mutual understanding and creating opportunities for collaborative approaches to address common challenges faced by the youth in the region.

In his keynote address, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, highlighted the cultural ties of India-Nepal Relations that goes back to antiquity. He noted, “India and Nepal share a unique relationship rooted in age-old civilizational, cultural, and spiritual ties, bound by history, geography, and people-to-people connections. This enduring partnership must be further strengthened through mutual respect and shared heritage through regional cooperation and youth-led progress.” He added, “Both India and Nepal are blessed with a significant youth population, and it is this demographic dividend that holds the key to our shared prosperity and regional development.”

He further emphasized upon the visionary leadership of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India. “Under his leadership”, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “India has embarked on an ambitious journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047— Viksit Bharat @2047. This transformation is not merely about economic growth – it is about creating an ecosystem where our youth can thrive, innovate and lead from the front. The Government of India has been at the forefront of this mission, implementing comprehensive programs like Khelo India, Fit India and Sundays on Cycle that nurture socially responsible youth with leadership qualities, promote sportsmanship and foster a spirit of zeal and service among our young citizens.”

He also spoke about MY Bharat, a transformative digital youth engagement platform launched by the Government of India. “With over 1.80 crore registrations, MY Bharat connects millions of young Indians with learning and nation-building opportunities. It bridges youth aspirations with national development goals and empowers them to become active contributors to India's growth story.”

In addition, the Roundtable also explored ways to strengthen youth-to-youth linkages between India and Nepal. Discussions included reviving cooperation in youth exchanges, knowledge sharing, sports development, and gender-inclusive participation in youth-focused events. The Nepali Young Leaders’ Delegation also emphasised cultural collaboration to revive traditional games and sports shared by both nations – such as Kho Kho, Kushti (wrestling) and Kabaddi – with the goal of bringing regional games to global prominence.

The ongoing visit of the Young Leaders’ Delegation from Nepal underscores the shared commitment of India and Nepal to deepen the multifaceted partnership by harnessing the energy and potential of their youth for inclusive growth and development. The Roundtable also served to apprise the young leaders from Nepal about the transformative developments taking place in India. Recognizing that both India and Nepal possess significant youth populations and face similar challenges, the Conference provided a platform for sharing best practices and experiences.

The foundation for such collaborative initiatives was established through the MoU signed between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the Republic of India on Cooperation for Youth Affairs on 25th November, 2014, at Kathmandu. The MoU provides a comprehensive framework for cooperation in the field of youth development and excellence.

Under the provisions of this MoU, various International Youth Exchange Programmes (IYEP) have been successfully organized between India and Nepal, demonstrating the sustained commitment of both nations towards youth engagement.

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Rini Choudhury

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