Page 30 - NIS English 1-15 Feb, 2026

NATION | Young Leaders Dialogue-2026

From Policy to Innovation

The Decisive Participation of Youth

India’s youth power is the greatest asset of a Viksit Bharat. Full of energy, innovation,
and leadership potential, today’s youth are not only shaping their own future but also
determining the direction of the nation. The “Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue-2026”
is a powerful platform for brainstorming youth ideas, fostering leadership, and building a
Viksit Bharat, where young people become an integral part of the country’s development
agenda. This is why, at the closing ceremony of this dialogue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
said, “I myself draw energy from your capabilities, talent, and energy...”

he year 2047, when the country marks 100 of youth power is unprecedented. ”.
years of independence, is a decisive phase At the closing ceremony of the Viksit Bharat
Tfor both the nation and its youth. The Prime Young Leaders Dialogue-2026, PM Modi said that
Minister noted that the event coincides with the what could be a greater exercise in thinking than
birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. “Remem- millions of people brainstorming on a specific topic
bering Swami Vivekananda, we celebrate National and goal? PM Modi was deeply impressed by the
Youth Day every year on 12 January. Inspired by his ideas presented by the youth at the conference on
ideals, 12 January has been chosen for the Viksit topics such as women-led development and youth
Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. The life of Swami participation in democracy.
Vivekananda is a great guiding light for all of us.” The Prime Minister cited the startup ecosystem
Expressing satisfaction over the rapid growth of as an example of change, noting that despite global
the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, PM Modi growth in startup culture over decades, India had very
described it as a powerful platform enabling direct limited focus on startups before 2014. “Until 2014,
youth participation in shaping India’s development there were fewer than 500 registered startups in the
agenda. “The association of crores of young people country. In the absence of a startup culture, govern-
with this initiative, more than 5 million registrations, ment intervention dominated every sector. Our youth
and over 3 million youths participating in the Viksit talent, their capabilities, did not get the opportunity
Bharat Challenge and sharing their ideas for the na- to fulfil their dreams. Regarding the presentations
tion’s development – such large-scale engagement on startups at the conference, PM Modi said that the

28 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || February 1-15, 2026