The Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) organised the MY Bharat National Youth Volunteers Convention at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow, bringing together nearly 1500+ MY Bharat Youth Volunteers from across Uttar Pradesh.
The convention aimed at strengthening youth leadership, volunteerism and community engagement while equipping volunteers to actively contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 through Kartavya Bhav, Seva and nation-first action.
The programme featured orientation sessions on the MY Bharat Portal, leadership and community mobilisation, a cultural presentation on the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat campaign and the felicitation of outstanding youth achievers.
The programme was graced by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment; Shri Girish Chandra Yadav, Minister of Sports & Youth Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Shri Suhas L Y, Secretary, Sports & Youth Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Priyanka Shukla, CEO, MY Bharat and senior officers of MY Bharat and the MY Bharat National Service Scheme (NSS).
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya called upon the youth to become the architects of Viksit Bharat @2047, guided by the spirit of Kartavya Bhav, Seva and Nation First."The next 25 years of Amrit Kaal belong to the youth. We may witness Viksit Bharat, but you will live in Viksit Bharat.
It is your Kartavya to build it," the Union Minister said. Dr. Mandaviya stated that India's demographic strength, with nearly 65 per cent of its population below the age of 35, makes young people the driving force behind the country's development journey.
Referring to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of nurturing one lakh young leaders without political or family background, he said leadership must emerge from every village, tribal community, island, town and city. Describing MY Bharat platform (mybharat.gov.in) as one stop solution for youth empowerment, the Minister said it connects young people with volunteering opportunities, career pathways, experiential learning programmes, community service and innovation.
He noted that the ideas generated through the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) had influenced policymaking, adding that several recommendations of young participants were reflected in the Union Budget 2026. Giving a clear call to action, Dr. Mandaviya urged every MY Bharat Youth Volunteers to connect at least 300 young people with the MY Bharat platform and facilitate the registration of 100 active Youth Clubs within the next three months.
"Every Youth Club should become a centre of Seva, leadership and nation-building," he said, urging volunteers to organise regular community activities and strengthen the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat campaign by highlighting the stories of suffering families, taking its message to every village, locality and household.
He urged the volunteers to work with commitment, innovation and discipline, adding that "The future of India will not be written in government offices alone; it will be written by young citizens working in every community across the country."
Echoing the emphasis on youth-led development and collective responsibility Shri Girish Chandra Yadav said that MY Bharat has emerged as a powerful platform for channelising the energy of youth towards nation-building and realising the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
"Whether it is Nukkad Natak, cultural activities, volunteerism or community campaigns, MY Bharat has connected young people with the nation. This platform will become the focal point of Viksit Bharat @2047," he said. Highlighting Uttar Pradesh's contribution to the initiative, Shri Yadav said that while over 2.25 crore youth have been connected with MY Bharat across the country, Uttar Pradesh has significantly expanded its outreach by increasing registrations from 13.5 lakh to over 23 lakh youth.
He described the achievement as a reflection of the enthusiasm and commitment of the State's young population towards nation-building. Earlier, welcoming the volunteers, Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, stated that it is a matter of pride that the country's largest State brought together such a large gathering of MY Bharat volunteers united by the spirit of service.
She said the enthusiasm of the youth must be channelised towards national development and social transformation. She said, "When young people make a cause for their personal commitment, they create lasting change. The contribution of youth towards Viksit Bharat will be shaped by the National Youth Volunteers dedication and sense of responsibility."
A key highlight of the programme was the, top five winners of the Nation First Challenge were felicitated by the Hon'ble Union Minister. The awardees included Abhishek Ramdas Naikwadi (Maharashtra), T. Ramesh (Telangana), Namreddy Ritvik Reddy (Telangana), Swamykeri Venkata Lokesh (Andhra Pradesh) and Krishnanand Jaiswal (Uttar Pradesh).
During the convention, MY Bharat Youth Volunteers participated in interactive sessions on the MY Bharat Portal, youth leadership and community mobilisation, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to drive the Department of Youth Affairs' flagship initiatives at the grassroots.
A cultural presentation on the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat campaign reinforced the message of a drug-free India and showcased the transformative role of youth-led awareness and community action. The convention concluded with the administration of the Nasha Mukt Pledge, reinforcing the collective resolve of MY Bharat Youth Volunteers to take the message of a Nasha Mukt Bharat to every village, every locality and every household, while working with Seva, Kartavya Bhav and an unwavering commitment towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. discipline and a spirit of Seva towards building a drug-free, developed and self-reliant India.