Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, organised 91 Yuva Samvads across 24 States/UTs today as part of its nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat Yuva Samvad: Know Your Vote’ campaign, aimed at promoting electoral awareness and encouraging informed and responsible participation of young people in democracy. The programmes brought together 15,453 youth, 90 Youth Icons and public representatives for discussions on voting rights, democratic values and civic responsibilities.
The events covered Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the north, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Puducherry in the south, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura in the North-East, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal in the east, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in central India, and Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan in the west.
With today's programmes, the campaign has reached a cumulative 311 Yuva Samvads across 30 States/UTs, engaging 59,408 young people and 310 Youth Icons. The initiative provides students with an opportunity to understand democratic processes, interact with elected representatives and develop a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
In Delhi, Dr. Satyapal Singh, retired IPS officer, highlighted the importance of lifelong learning and the power of voting rights in shaping democracy. In Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Leader of Opposition Shri Jai Ram Thakur and MLA Shri Puran Chand Thakur urged students to stay informed about current affairs, think critically and distinguish facts from rumours and misinformation. At Dharamshala, Member of Parliament from Kangra and Chamba Dr. Rajeev Bhardwaj responded to students' questions during an interactive discussion.
In Gujarat, programmes in Bhavnagar, Patan and Surat provided students, particularly first-time voters, an opportunity to seek clarity on voting rights and electoral procedures. In Rajasthan, local representatives and Youth Icons engaged with students in Hanumangarh, Pali and Sikar. The Hanumangarh programme also featured discussions on free and fair voting, a question-and-answer session and the Loktantrik pledge.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Ballia programme combined an orientation on MY Bharat activities, including the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2027 and Viksit Bharat Young Professionals, with a discussion on ‘Know Your Vote’ and the Loktantrik pledge. In Bihar, programmes featured presentations and discussions on democratic participation. In Khagaria and Purnea, public representatives encouraged young people to become informed voters and contribute to a stronger democracy, while participants in Begusarai, Patna and Saharsa took the Loktantrik Shapath, reaffirming their commitment to responsible citizenship.
In Chhattisgarh, programmes in Dantewada and Jashpur highlighted the role of young people in democracy and nation-building. In Dantewada, MLA Shri Chaitram Atami attended the programme, while Youth Icon Ms. Nandani Dixit delivered a presentation on voting rights and responsible citizenship. In Jashpur, MLA Smt. Raimuni Bhagat urged young people to contribute towards building a Viksit Bharat, exercise independent judgement and remain alert to fake news and misinformation.
Yuva Samvads were held in Ashoknagar, Dewas, Dhar, Indore, Rajgarh, Satna, Shahdol, Tikamgarh and Umaria districts of Madhya Pradesh. In Dewas, Youth Icon Muskan Khare led an interaction with students, while athletes Mahi Verma and Adnan Mohammad Badshah were felicitated for their sporting achievements. In Rajgarh, Member of Parliament Shri Rodmal Singh Nagar engaged with participants, while MLA Smt. Neena Vikram Verma attended the programme in Dhar.
In Karnataka, State MLC Shri C.T. Ravi attended the programme in Bangalore Rural and responded to students' questions. Participants took the Loktantrik pledge and registered on the MY Bharat portal. In Kolar, the programme included an orientation on MY Bharat, a presentation by the Youth Icon and a pledge-taking ceremony.