MY Bharat and NSS Key Drivers of Youth Empowerment for Viksit Bharat: Mansukh Mandaviya

Shillong, May 30: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said that MY Bharat and the National Service Scheme (NSS) are playing complementary roles in empowering India’s youth and contributing towards the vision of a developed nation by 2047.

Speaking at the concluding session of the Department of Youth Affairs’ two-day Chintan Shivir at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong, the Minister described MY Bharat and NSS as two strong pillars of youth development working toward a common national objective.

The event brought together officials from the Department of Youth Affairs, MY Bharat and NSS from across the country to discuss strategies for enhancing youth participation, strengthening institutional coordination and improving programme implementation at the grassroots level.

Addressing participants, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the importance of innovation, commitment and effective collaboration in achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat. He said that while NSS actively engages students within educational institutions, MY Bharat extends youth participation into communities, creating a broader platform for nation-building initiatives.

The Minister encouraged District Youth Officers to take on leadership roles in their regions by motivating young people, expanding youth club networks and fostering partnerships with local stakeholders. He also stressed the importance of documenting successful initiatives and promoting best practices that can be replicated across districts.

Dr. Mandaviya noted that the real impact of the Chintan Shivir would be measured by how effectively its recommendations are translated into action at the district level. He urged officials to remain connected with the aspirations of young people and adopt a solution-oriented approach to increasing youth engagement.

Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Secretary of the Department of Youth Affairs Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, Additional Secretary Nitesh Kumar Mishra, MY Bharat CEO Dr. Priyanka Shukla and other senior officials were also present during the concluding session.

As part of the closing ceremony, outstanding performers from the financial year 2025-26 were recognised for their achievements. Tripura, Jharkhand and Mizoram emerged as the best-performing states based on physical and financial progress under various youth development programmes.

Under the Viksit Bharat Village Quiz initiative, North 24 Parganas in West Bengal, Patna in Bihar and Baraipur in West Bengal were honoured among the top-performing districts.

Participants from various states described the Chintan Shivir as a valuable platform for knowledge-sharing, mentorship and collaborative problem-solving. Several officials said the discussions helped strengthen their understanding of departmental priorities and offered practical solutions for field-level implementation.

Delivering the vote of thanks, MY Bharat CEO Dr. Priyanka Shukla said the event was the largest youth affairs-focused gathering organised by the Department in the North Eastern region. She expressed confidence that the outcomes of the Chintan Shivir would contribute to stronger youth engagement and more effective implementation of government programmes across the country.