Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday urged young people to become active partners and ambassadors of Viksit Bharat, placing nation-building at the centre of their actions.
Addressing the “Youth for Viksit Bharat: MY Bharat Youth Convention” at Swatantrata Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University, in Varanasi, Mandaviya said today’s youth would be the generation that lives in and leads India in 2047.
“Viksit Bharat must be shaped by the youth, for the youth and through the youth,” he said, encouraging participants to look beyond individual aspirations and contribute to their communities and the nation.
Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), the convention brought together youth achievers, sportspersons, digital content creators and young leaders to celebrate excellence and encourage participation in nation-building.
Mandaviya highlighted discipline, service, responsibility and respect as important values in national development. Meaningful transformation did not always require large interventions, he said, noting that small, sustained efforts could produce significant results when undertaken with purpose.
He encouraged young people to address community needs and translate their aspirations into constructive action.
Highlighting opportunities through MY Bharat for volunteering, leadership, community service and experiential engagement, the minister said India’s demographic strength could become a major developmental advantage when young people were connected with a larger national purpose.
“Viksit Bharat is not only a destination for India’s youth; it is a national mission that has to be realised through the energy, ideas, discipline and participation of young Indians,” he said.
Mandaviya also called for greater youth participation in the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Abhiyan. Substance abuse threatened young people’s potential, family well-being and national progress, he said, urging participants to raise awareness, encourage positive choices and mobilise communities towards a drug-free society.
He asked young people to use their creativity and digital influence responsibly to support positive social change.
The convention felicitated Asian Games medallists Rohit Yadav, Prachi Choudhary, Parul Choudhary, Jay Kumar and Raj Kumar Pal for their sporting achievements.
Arpit Giri, Aditya Upadhyay and Avantika were honoured for clearing JEE and securing admission to IIT (BHU).
Content creators Prajwal Prajapati, Abhishek Chaurasiya, Amit Kumar Gautam, Harsh Gupta, Shivam Pandey, Suryanshu Shukla, Saurabh Chandra, Bhim Yadav, Shivaditya, Dishu Khanna and Aditya Maurya were also recognised for their contributions to youth engagement, creative expression and positive social impact through digital platforms.
Indian cricketer Dhruv Jurel shared his experiences, emphasising discipline, commitment and perseverance in pursuing sporting excellence.
Hanuman Ansh director Vishal Chaturvedi discussed creative expression and the role of music and cultural storytelling in engaging young audiences. The programme featured a musical performance by Sadhu Tiwari, associated with Hanuman Ansh, alongside folk music, street theatre and folk dance presented by MY Bharat volunteers.
Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Welfare and Sports Girish Chandra Yadav and Union Youth Affairs Secretary Sunil Paliwal also attended.
By bringing achievers and aspiring young people together, the convention sought to promote peer learning, highlight inspiring success stories and encourage participation in youth-led initiatives supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
