Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Launches Viksit Vibrant Village Program 2026 to Boost Youth Participation in Border Areas
500 MY Bharat Volunteers to Engage with Communities in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh Under Nationwide Initiative
The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, June 3: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through its youth engagement platform MY Bharat, has launched the first phase of the Viksit Vibrant Village Program (VVVP) 2026, a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening youth participation, promoting national integration and supporting sustainable development in India’s border villages.
The programme will see 500 MY Bharat volunteers from across the country engage directly with communities in strategically important border regions of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh.
The volunteers were selected through a nationwide online quiz competition that attracted participation from more than three lakh young people. In the first phase, 250 selected volunteers will undertake immersive activities in 43 border villages, while another 250 volunteers will participate in the second phase later this month across 50 additional villages.
Designed as a seven-day residential programme, the initiative offers young participants an opportunity to live in border villages and interact closely with local communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions, district administrations and security forces. The programme seeks to provide firsthand understanding of the socio-economic conditions, cultural heritage, developmental needs and strategic importance of India’s frontier regions.
The week-long engagement will focus on multiple themes, including border awareness, cultural exchange, governance, community participation, socio-economic surveys, village development planning, volunteerism and nation-building. Volunteers will also take part in Gram Sabha meetings, cleanliness drives, environmental campaigns and local development initiatives.
A major highlight of the programme is the promotion of the Nation First Challenge, a nationwide campaign encouraging responsible citizenship and sustainable living. Through community outreach activities, volunteers will promote five key themes:
The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), reflecting the government’s broader vision of strengthening border communities while encouraging youth participation in nation-building.
Officials said extensive planning and coordination have been carried out at national, state and district levels. Dedicated control rooms, nodal officers, village action plans, volunteer orientation sessions and logistical arrangements have been established to ensure smooth implementation.
The Viksit Vibrant Village Program 2026 is aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and aims to build stronger social, cultural and developmental connections between India’s youth and its border communities, while empowering young citizens to play an active role in the country’s growth and progress.
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