Nagaland targets around 18,000 registrations for VBYLD 2027, with youth aged 15-29 encouraged to participate in competitions, cultural activities and innovation tracks.
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KOHIMA — Nagaland has set a target of around 18,000 registrations for the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2027, with the State government urging young people and students to participate in the nationwide programme aimed at involving youth in shaping the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
This was stated during a joint press conference addressed by Director of Youth Resources & Sports Kethosituo Sekhose; State Director, MY Bharat Nagaland, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Alphonce Toppo; State NSS Officer Ruokuovituo Zatsu; and District Youth Officer, MY Bharat Kohima, Pradeep J, at Hotel Japfu, Kohima, on Thursday.
Toppo said VBYLD 2027 will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from January 10 to the 12th next year. He explained that the National Youth Festival, held since 1995 on National Youth Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, was transformed into VBYLD in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
According to Toppo, the 2026 edition witnessed more than 50 lakh participants and 3,000 finalists. The 2027 edition will engage youth aged 15 to 29 through various tracks, including Youth Parliament, the Viksit Bharat Challenge, cultural activities, Innovate for Bharat, Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge, Hack for Social Change and Designs for Bharat.
Under the Viksit Bharat Challenge, participants will progress through a digital quiz and essay competition before selected participants compete at the district level through PowerPoint presentations. Winners will advance to the state level and subsequently to the National Dialogue.
Sekhose said the State-level Youth Festival will be held from September 28 to the 30th, with district-level competitions already underway. The district-level competitions are expected to conclude by September 20, after which entries will be submitted for the state-level contests.
He said the state would adjust the schedules for the quiz, essay and PowerPoint presentation competitions in line with the Ministry's timeline, while the cultural track would follow the state's schedule.
He cited Nagaland's academic calendar, which concludes in December compared to March in many other states, as one reason for adjusting the schedule.
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Nagaland will send 12 teams to the national level, with three participants in each team, meaning 36 participants will qualify through the Viksit Bharat Challenge.
Sekhose acknowledged that Nagaland's participation in the previous edition was not encouraging compared to other states, with around 30 participants reaching the state level. He said the state aims to significantly improve its participation this year.
“This year we will be sending a bigger chunk. 36 of them will go from this particular contest itself,” he said.
He urged eligible youth to take advantage of the opportunity, noting that Nagaland had been given a target of around 18,000 registrations. He also highlighted the State's strong record in cultural activities, including previous achievements in tracks such as Western Guitar Classical.
As part of the State Youth Festival, the department will organise the third edition of Sonic Showdown on September 29 in collaboration with the Task Force for Music and Arts (TAFMA). Eight school bands from across Nagaland have been shortlisted, with the first prize carrying INR 1 lakh.
Zatsu said 1,958 participants from Nagaland had so far registered through the NSS and urged media organisations to publicise the programme and encourage greater youth participation.
Sekhose said VBYLD was intended to give young people a greater role in the development process by bringing their ideas, aspirations and concerns into the planning of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Pradeep appealed to youth to view the initiative not merely as a competition but as an opportunity to think, question, create, innovate, lead and contribute. He encouraged singers, dancers, artists, poets, performers, innovators, technologists and entrepreneurs to participate through the various tracks.
The officials urged eligible youth aged 15 to 29 to register through the MY Bharat portal and participate in the programme.
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