Indian Economy News

MY Bharat Launches Viksit Vibrant Village Program 2026 to Strengthen Youth Engagement in Border Villages of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh

The Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched the first phase of the Viksit Vibrant Village Program (VVVP) 2026 through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), a youth-led initiative aimed at strengthening grassroots engagement, promoting national integration and supporting sustainable development in India’s border regions. A total of 500 MY Bharat volunteers, selected through a nationwide online quiz competition that attracted participation from more than three lakh youth, have been chosen to take part in the programme. Volunteers representing all States and Union Territories are being deployed across identified border villages in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. During the first phase, 250 volunteers are participating in immersive engagements across 43 villages, while the remaining participants will join activities in 50 villages during the second phase later this month. The initiative provides young citizens with an opportunity to live in border villages and interact directly with local communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions, district administrations and security personnel, gaining first-hand exposure to the socio-economic conditions, cultural heritage, developmental aspirations and strategic importance of India’s frontier regions.

The seven-day immersion programme has been structured around themes such as border awareness, cultural exchange, community living, governance, socio-economic assessment, village development planning, volunteerism and national integration. Participants will undertake household surveys, participate in Gram Sabha activities, contribute to cleanliness and environmental campaigns and help identify developmental opportunities within villages. A key component of the initiative is the Nation First Challenge, under which volunteers will promote the adoption of Swadeshi products, healthy cooking practices, public transport usage and fuel conservation, natural farming and local tourism. Implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the programme aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and seeks to strengthen the social, cultural and developmental linkages between India’s youth and border communities. The initiative is expected to foster youth leadership, encourage community participation and contribute to the long-term development of strategically important border villages.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.