The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India commemorates the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on 12th January as National Youth Day, and the week beginning from this day is observed as National Youth Week. Since 1995, the Ministry has organized the National Youth Festival as a flagship event during this period to promote national integration, communal harmony, and youth engagement. In 2025, the National Youth Festival (NYF) was restructured as the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) to align with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, positioning youth as active contributors to India’s development through leadership, innovation, and policy-oriented dialogue.
The programme provides a national platform for youth leadership and dialogue on development priorities, encouraging constructive and non-partisan engagement in nation-building and policymaking. It focuses on identifying, recognizing, and nurturing young leaders, innovators, and change-makers from across the country, while strengthening the spirit of youth-led development aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The initiative engages youth aged 15–29 years across multiple thematic tracks, including Cultural and Innovation, Viksit Bharat Challenge, Design for Bharat, Hack for Social Cause, and Diaspora Youth Participation, with competitions conducted at district and state levels as a run-up to the national platform.
