Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 8 Jan: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) on Thursday flagged off the Uttarakhand delegation participating in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue–2026, to be held in New Delhi from 9 to 12 January.
Interacting with the youth and participants, the Governor said that India’s youth is not only a demographic dividend but also a demographic driving force. He urged the young participants to set clear goals and document their missions and daily experiences in a personal diary. He emphasised that the opportunity to represent Uttarakhand at the national level should be utilised to the fullest. The experiences gained during the event should be shared not only with classmates but also with others, as a true leader thinks about collective welfare, not just personal growth. He said that the youth will go on to lead the nation in the future.
Encouraging the participants, the Governor said that Uttarakhand is a land of spirituality, yoga and penance, where culture, traditions, hospitality and medicinal herbs possess a unique identity. He urged the youth to similarly create their own distinct identity. He noted that the year 2026 will be marked by technological advancement, and therefore advised the youth to skill themselves, develop a unique aura, and expand their thinking, ideas and perspectives. He stressed that the mindset of the youth of a developed India must be broad, progressive and evolved.
It is worth noting that every year, on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, National Youth Day is celebrated, during which a National Youth Festival is organised. This year, as part of these celebrations, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue–2026 is being organised at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. This event is of national significance.
A total of 76 youths from Uttarakhand are participating in various competitive categories. These participants were selected after multi-level competitions. In the cultural categories, following block-level and district-level competitions, 24 participants who succeeded at the state-level Youth Festival have been selected to participate at the national level.
Under the intellectual categories, participants were selected through multiple stages conducted in hybrid mode. The state-level PPT and Leadership Assessment rounds were held on 3 and 4 January in the presence of an observer from the Government of India, in which 42 participants were selected.
On this occasion, Director Youth, Welfare, Dr Ashish Chauhan, Additional Director Rakesh Dimri, and participating youth were present.
