New Delhi

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday called upon India’s youth to take collective responsibility for building a developed nation while addressing the opening ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) at Bharat Mandapam here.

Addressing young participants, Mandaviya said Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions all 140 crore citizens contributing towards the goal of a Viksit Bharat, with the country’s youth playing a central role in realising that vision.

He recalled the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address from the Red Fort, where Modi had emphasised that the dream of a developed India cannot be achieved by the government alone but requires collective effort. Mandaviya said the Prime Minister has placed his trust in the youth to act as torchbearers of the nation’s development journey.

The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is aimed at strengthening youth participation in nation-building and providing a platform for young leaders to engage with policymakers and national icons.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also addressed the gathering, highlighting the sacrifices made by generations of Indians to secure the country’s freedom. He urged the youth to draw inspiration from history and channel that spirit towards rebuilding India into a strong and self-reliant nation rooted in its own values, rights and beliefs.

Doval said India’s independence came at a heavy cost, marked by suffering, destruction and humiliation, and called upon young Indians to respond to this historical challenge with determination and purpose to restore the country’s civilisational strength.

Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2.0 began on Saturday and will continue until January 12 at Bharat Mandapam.

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The inaugural edition of the dialogue was held in January 2025 at the same venue.