SHILLONG: The Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) Budget Quest 2026 – North Eastern Region, organised under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, concluded on Monday after a two-day brainstorming session held at the U Soso Tham Auditorium in Shillong.
The event brought together youth, academicians, industry leaders, and subject experts to deliberate on themes aligned with the Union Budget 2026. More than 15,000 young participants from 17 locations across all states and Union Territories took part in the initiative.
Addressing the gathering virtually, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, described the ‘MY Bharat’ platform as a transformative single-window ecosystem aimed at guiding the aspirations and future of India’s youth. He emphasised that today’s young generation will be the architects of a developed India by 2047.
“The youth of today, who are around 25 years old, will live in the India of 2047—and the developed India you aspire to live in is the one you must build,” he said.
The Union Minister also announced that the upcoming ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leader Dialogue’ will introduce a new State Edition format. This will include state-level quiz competitions to identify top talent who will interact with their respective Chief Ministers and Governors. From these, 3,000 merit holders will be invited to New Delhi to present their ideas directly to the Prime Minister on National Youth Day.
Minister in charge of Sports and Youth Affairs, Wailadmiki Shylla, read out a message from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, stating that such dialogues unlock a vast reservoir of ideas and harness the creativity of youth to build a stronger and forward-looking nation.
Speaking at the gathering, Wailadmiki Shylla highlighted various youth-centric initiatives of the state government, including a student exchange programme spanning block, district, state, national, and international levels. He informed that two teams from the state will travel abroad this year—one to Malaysia and another to the Philippines—for cultural exposure and learning.
Encouraging participants, Shylla shared his personal journey, stating that he rose to his current position by making use of available opportunities. He urged the youth to remain determined, noting that today’s generation has access to far greater opportunities compared to the past.
Mehbub Alam Laskar, Joint Director and State Director of MY Bharat (in charge of Mizoram), conducted a session on the initiative, emphasising the importance of making the Union Budget 2026 more accessible and engaging for young citizens, while promoting active youth participation in national fiscal policy discussions.
During an interactive session, participants were asked to describe “Viksit Bharat” in one word, with responses including “hope”, “diversity”, and “humanity”.
A panel discussion on “Green Viksit Bharat” featured experts including Naba Bhattacharjee, former Commissioner of the National Green Tribunal; Wanshan Kharkrang, Joint Secretary, Forest & Environment; Albert Chiang, OSD, Meghalaya Basin Development Authority; and Akhilesh Singh, CEO of Earth tree. The panel stressed the importance of balancing development with environmental sustainability through collective responsibility and active youth participation.
Another session on “Human Capital: Investment in Education, Skill Development and Employment” brought together Audrey Khonglam, District Skills Development Officer, East Khasi Hills; Benjamin Lyngdoh, Professor at North Eastern Hill University; and Father Michael Makri, Director of Don Bosco Youth Center, Shillong. The discussion focused on the integration of AI in education and the need to align vocational training with evolving industry demands.
Participants described the two-day programme as enriching, citing meaningful discussions, cultural exchange, and the sharing of innovative ideas.
