Bhubaneswar: Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister of Sports and Youth Services, Odisha, today officially inaugurated the ‘Viksit Bharat Youth Leadership Dialogue (VBYLD)-2027’ at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Implemented by ‘MY Bharat’ under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, this initiative offers young people a national platform to contribute their ideas toward the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’. Addressing the press conference, the Minister highlighted that the campaign aims to help youth bridge the gap from classrooms to boardrooms and playgrounds to parliament.
To turn these innovative ideas into practical products and services, the government is collaborating with premier institutions like the IITs. The state’s Sports and Youth Services Department is also partnering with ‘MY Bharat’ and National Service Scheme (NSS) to drive widespread awareness across Odisha. Reminding everyone of Swami Vivekananda’s message on the power of youth, Minister Suraj urged young talent from across the state to actively take part.
The selection process begins with the online ‘Viksit Bharat Quiz,’ running from August 17 to September 30, 2026, for individuals aged 15 to 29. Successful participants will advance to a 500-word essay writing competition, followed by district and state-level rounds. The final state delegates will travel to New Delhi to present their vision directly to Union Ministers, senior officials and the Prime Minister.
The program includes six core tracks – Viksit Bharat Challenge, Cultural Track, Design for Bharat, Hack for Social Cause, Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, and Youth Parliament. Students from schools, colleges and universities across Odisha can register on MY Bharat portal at https://mybharat.gov.in/vbyld-2027.
Sports Director Dr. Yeddula Vijay, Additional Secretary, Sports & Youth Services Sudhakar Naik along with State Directors from MY Bharat and NSS were present at the launch event.
