Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on January 8 virtually flagged off a 53-member youth contingent from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to New Delhi for participation in the 29th National Youth Festival, rechristened as the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue 2026.
The national event, scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam from January 10 to 12, brings together young leaders from across the country to deliberate on innovation, leadership and nation-building under the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Addressing the participants, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the selected youth for earning a place at the national forum through rigorous local competitions, describing their journey as a testament to the “immense potential and resilience” of Jammu and Kashmir’s young generation.
“Youth is not defined by age but by mindset — courage, curiosity and the power to bring change,” Sinha said, expressing confidence in the ability of J&K’s youth to contribute meaningfully to India’s development story.
Referring to Swami Vivekananda’s iconic call — “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached” — the Lieutenant Governor urged the participants to make their dreams the sole purpose of their lives and to view challenges as lessons in discipline, patience and perseverance.
He underlined that leadership goes beyond personal success and lies in creating pathways for others to grow. “Your greatest responsibility is towards society and the nation. True progress is measured by how many opportunities you create for others,” he said.
Calling on the youth to invest in character-building, future-ready skills and lifelong learning, Sinha encouraged them to think beyond boundaries and lead with courage and clarity in the journey towards a developed India.
The contingent will represent Jammu and Kashmir in the Viksit Bharat Challenge Track and the Cultural and Innovation Track at the prestigious national platform.
Commissioner Secretary Youth Services and Sports Yasha Mudgal, Director General Youth Services and Sports Anuradha Gupta, senior officials, participating youth and members accompanying the contingent were present during the virtual flag-off.