PM Modi to interact with 3K youths at Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue on Monday
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with more than 3,000 youngsters from across India and abroad at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue here on January 12, the PMO said in a statement on Saturday.
Selected participants of the 2026 edition of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue will make their final presentations to the PM across 10 thematic tracks, sharing youth-led perspectives and actionable ideas on key areas of national importance.
On the occasion of National Youth Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the prime minister will participate in the concluding session of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam, the statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.
ALSO READ: Trump repeats claim of stopping India-Pak conflict, says Obama ‘didn't do anything’ to win Nobel
During the programme, the prime minister will release the Essay Compilation for Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, comprising selected essays authored by young participants on India's developmental priorities and long-term nation-building goals.
The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is a national platform designed to facilitate structured engagement between India's youth and national leadership.
"Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue aligns with the prime minister's Independence Day call to engage 1 lakh youth in politics without political affiliations and provide them a national platform to make their ideas for Viksit Bharat, a reality," the PMO said.
The dialogue, being held from January 9 to 12, has witnessed participation from over 50 lakh youth across the country at various levels.
The young leaders converging at the national-level championship have been selected through a rigorous, merit-based three-stage selection process, comprising a nationwide digital quiz, an essay challenge and state-level vision presentations.
The second edition of the dialogue builds upon the success of its inaugural edition with key new additions, including the introduction of Design for Bharat, Tech for Viksit Bharat - Hack for a Social Cause, expanded thematic engagements, and international participation for the first time, further strengthening the dialogue's scope and impact, the statement said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengaluru: Karnataka mulls ban social media for children below 16, says Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is considering a ban on the use of social media for children below the age of 16, taking inspiration from steps taken by countries such as Australia and Finland, The New Indian Express reported.
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and IT-BT, Priyank Kharge, informed the Assembly on Friday that the issue is under discussion. Responding to senior BJP leader and MLA S Suresh Kumar, who expressed concern over the abuse of social media, Kharge admitted that it is a serious issue.
Finland has taken action, the UK is considering similar steps, and Australia imposed a ban two months ago. “We too in the state have launched a digital detoxification programme for responsible use of AI and social media. The IT-BT department, in collaboration with Meta, has been running it by involving over three lakh children and one lakh teachers,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
Kharge said that in March 2025, the government launched the ‘Beyond Screens’ programme to help people dealing with digital addiction. The initiative was announced during the GAFX 2025 summit, along with the opening of a ‘Beyond Screens’ digital detox centre and the launch of an official website.
The detox centre serves as a dedicated hub for resources, counselling and intervention programmes for healthier digital habits.
During the Assembly session, Suresh Kumar also referred to the Economic Survey 2025-26, which was presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The survey recommended that governments consider age-based restrictions on social media use for children.
