Shillong, April 14: The MY Bharat Budget Quest 2026 – North Eastern Region, organised by Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, concluded in Shillong with an engaging virtual interaction by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya. The two-day programme was held at the U Soso Tham Auditorium on April 12 and 13, as part of a nationwide initiative spanning 17 locations across the country, including all eight North Eastern states.
Addressing the young participants, the Union Minister encouraged them to actively engage in nation-building, policy discussions and innovation-driven development. He emphasized the pivotal role of youth as the driving force behind the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and urged them to contribute ideas and solutions aligned with the priorities of the Union Budget.
The Union Minister also announced that the upcoming ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leader Dialogue’ will feature a new ‘State Edition’ format, which will include state-level quiz competitions to identify top talent. Selected participants will interact with their respective Chief Ministers and Governors and from these state editions 3,000 participants will be invited to New Delhi to present their ideas directly to the Prime Minister on National Youth Day.
The programme was also graced by Shri Wailadmiki, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs of Meghalaya, who motivated the youth to take full advantage of platforms like Budget Quest. He highlighted the State Government’s commitment to youth development, including dedicated budgetary allocations for youth-centric initiatives.
He read out a message from the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, highlighting that dialogues help unlock a wide range of ideas and harness the creativity of youth to build a stronger and more forward-looking nation. In his address, Shri Shylla also elaborated on the State Government’s student exchange programme, conducted across multiple levels from block and district to national and international platforms and informed that two student teams will be sent abroad this year, one to Malaysia in June and another to the Philippines, to gain exposure to diverse cultures.
The programme brought together outstanding young participants who had qualified through a rigorous multi-stage national competition. Over 15,000 youth from across States and Union Territories participated in deliberations nationwide, engaging with themes aligned to the Union Budget 2026. The initiative reflected the spirit of Amrit Peedhi, empowering youth to actively contribute to India’s policy discourse and nation-building.
On the first day, the ceremony was inaugurated by Chief Guest Shri Mariahom Kharkhang ;Retd. IPS officer and social worker. Other dignitaries present included Shri Dinobondhu Saha, Regional Director, MY Bharat (North Eastern Region); Shri Bimal Patrick Shah, Joint Director; Shri Mehbub Alam Laskar, Joint Director; Shri Ataur Rahman, Joint Director; and Shri Bobby Wahlang, State Youth Officer, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Meghalaya.
Addressing the gathering during the inaugural session, the Chief Guest highlighted the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and called upon youth to contribute meaningfully towards national development. He emphasized unity in diversity, the need to combat social challenges such as drug abuse, and underscored the importance of Nari Shakti in nation-building.
The programme commenced with a felicitation ceremony and lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by the rendition of Vande Mataram. A “Sundays on Cycle” bicycle rally was also organised in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India, witnessing enthusiastic participation. Simultaneously, a Women’s Youth Parliament was conducted under the theme “Nari Shakti: Viksit Bharat Ki Awaaz”, where participants engaged in a structured parliamentary-style discussion on the Women’s Reservation Bill and adopted a resolution reflecting their collective perspectives.
On the second day, thematic sessions and panel discussions were organised to deepen engagement on key policy priorities. A panel on “Green Viksit Bharat – Environment-Friendly and Sustainable Development” featured experts including Shri Albert Chiang,OSD Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), Shri Wanshan Kharkrang,Joint Secretary, Forest and Environment,Shri Akhilesh Singh,CEO Earthtree, and Shri Naba Bhattacharjee;Former Commissioner, National Green Tribunal, who deliberated on sustainable development, environmental conservation and the role of youth in building a greener India.
Another panel on “Human Capital – Investment in Education, Skill Development and Employment” included Shri Michael Makri, Director, Don Bosco Youth Center , Smti Audrey Khonglam, District Skill Development officer and Dr. Benjamin Langdoh, Professor, North Eastern Hill University, who highlighted the importance of strengthening education systems, enhancing skill development and generating employment opportunities to harness India’s demographic dividend.
The MY Bharat Budget Quest 2026 in Shillong concluded on a high note, successfully fostering meaningful dialogue and empowering youth to actively participate in shaping the nation’s future.
