Shillong, Marvh 09: The 9th Batch of the Ashtalakshmi Darshan – Youth Exchange Programme was inaugurated on 2nd February, 2026 at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, marking the beginning of a 14-day programme 1–14 February, 2026 aimed at fostering cultural exchange and experiential learning about the North Eastern Region.
The programme was inaugurated by Sri Stander Kumar Bhalla, Secretary, NEC who highlighted the vision of Viksit Bharat and the objectives of the Ashtalakshmi Darshan initiative.
He also spoke about the Government of India’s focused efforts towards the holistic development of the North East and emphasised the valuable lessons the rest of the country can learn from the region’s rich culture, community values, and resilience.
IIM-Shillong is the host institution for this programme cycle. The participating cohort includes 20 students each from Delhi and Odisha, accompanied by two faculty mentors from each location.
