The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026 has recorded unprecedented participation, with over 50.42 lakh youth joining Phase-1 of the nationwide quiz, marking a significant rise from the previous edition’s 30 lakh participants.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), aims to empower India’s youth to actively contribute to national development and the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The quiz was conducted on the MY Bharat and MyGov platforms between September 1 and October 31, with participation from all 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
According to the ministry, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana and West Bengal reported the highest participation. Gender representation was nearly balanced, with 51% male and 49% female participants.
With Phase-1 now complete, nearly 2.56 lakh shortlisted candidates will move to Phase-2 — the essay round — where they will present their ideas on key nation-building themes, including youth in governance, women-led development, entrepreneurship and startups, cultural and global influence, innovation rooted in tradition, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, sustainable agriculture, green growth, and future-ready workforce development.
Essays can be submitted in any of the 22 official languages of India until November 20, and will be evaluated through state-level assessment centres to ensure a transparent selection process. Those qualifying from the essay stage will advance to state-level rounds to present their vision for a developed Bharat, the sports ministry said.
Driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering youth, VBYLD is shaping a new generation of leaders contributing ideas for governance, innovation and nation-building. The initiative has emerged as a major forum for young voices as India marches toward the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.