DD India

India’s Prime Minister has approved two initiatives: one to encourage digital technology collaboration with France, and another to support youth development in India through the ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ program. The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has signed a MoU with France’s Ministry of Economy and Digital Sovereignty to strengthen bilateral cooperation in digital technologies.

The MoU will facilitate closer cooperation and the exchange of information related to digital technologies, with both parties committed to promoting access to digital technology in their respective countries. This collaboration is expected to boost both government-to-government (G2G) and business-to-business (B2B) partnerships, ultimately creating employment opportunities in the IT sector. The cooperation under this MoU is set to span five years.

India and France, as long-standing strategic partners dedicated to fostering a thriving digital ecosystem and facilitating citizen empowerment in the digital era. This partnership is based on the Indo-French Roadmap on Cybersecurity and Digital Technology announced in 2019. Both nations are actively pursuing cooperation in advanced digital technologies, including supercomputing, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and
quantum technologies, aligning with the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).

The Cabinet has approved the establishment of an autonomous body named “Mera Yuva Bharat” (MY Bharat). The body will serve as an overarching mechanism, powered by technology, aimed at the development of the youth in India. Its main objective is to provide equal opportunities for young individuals, enabling them to achieve their aspirations and contribute to the growth of the nation.

Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) will cater to youth between the ages of 15-29, as defined in the National Youth Policy, with specific components tailored for those aged 10-19. This initiative seeks to enhance the leadership skills of youth, promoting their role as social innovators and community leaders. It will bridge the gap between youth aspirations and community needs, fostering better alignment.

The initiative called “Mera Yuva Bharat” aims to develop leadership skills in the youth through experiential learning. This will be achieved by shifting from isolated physical interaction to programmatic skills. The government will invest more in the youth to make them social innovators and leaders in their communities. The focus will be on youth-led development, making them active drivers of development and not just passive recipients. The initiative will align the aspirations of the youth with the needs of the community, improving efficiency by converging existing programs. It will act as a one-stop shop for young people and ministries, creating a centralized youth database. The initiative will also improve two-way communication by connecting youth with government initiatives and activities of other stakeholders that engage with them. To ensure accessibility, a physical ecosystem will be created.