Jammu, Jan 7: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday virtually flagged off a 53-member youth contingent from Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the 29th National Youth Festival-Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue-2026 in New Delhi.
The National Youth Festival, organized annually to commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on January 12, is dedicated to youth empowerment and unity. In 2025, the festival was restructured as Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue to align with the vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047.
The selected contingent will represent Jammu and Kashmir in both the Viksit Bharat Challenge Track and Cultural/Innovation Track at the prestigious national event being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from January 10 to 12, 2026.
Interacting with the participants through virtual mode, the Lieutenant Governor extended his best wishes and congratulated them for emerging from local competitions to reach the national stage, noting that their journey reflects the immense potential inherent in the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Youth is not a matter about age. It is the mindset. It is about courage, curiosity, and the power to bring about change. I have complete faith in our Youth’s potential and their resolve to shape a developed India,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Invoking Swami Vivekananda’s iconic clarion call, “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached,” LG Sinha urged the youth to make their dreams the sole purpose of their lives and to consider every challenge along the way as a lesson in discipline and patience.
He emphasized that true leadership is defined not by personal achievements alone, but by the ability to create opportunities for others to succeed.
“Your greatest responsibility is towards society and the nation. True progress is about creating opportunities for others to move forward. Develop future capabilities, focus on character building and embrace lifelong learning. Be bold, be fearless, think beyond boundaries. Your courage, discipline, clarity, and determination, combined with experience will be your guide in this journey toward Viksit Bharat,” the Lieutenant Governor told the assembled youth.
The event was attended by Yasha Mudgal, Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Youth Services and Sports; Anuradha Gupta, Director General Youth Services and Sports; senior officials, participating youth and officials accompanying the contingent.
