Correspondent
KOHIMA, Sep 10 (NPN): The Nagaland government is preparing to implement the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2027, with the State-level youth festival scheduled from September 28 to 30, while district-level competitions are already underway.
At a press conference held at Hotel Japfü, State Director, MY Bharat Nagaland, Alphonce Toppo, who is also the State Nodal Officer (NSS), outlined the programme’s objectives, thematic tracks, selection process and the role of States in organising the event. He informed that the State-level youth festival would be conducted from September 27 to 29, with teams returning to their districts on September 30. Invitations to dignitaries were being processed as per guidelines.
The National VBYLD 2027, organised by MY Bharat under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports will be held from January 10 to 12, 2027, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Evolving from the National Youth Festival in 2025, the programme aims to engage youth aged 15 to 29 years in shaping the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The VBYLD will feature six thematic tracks: Viksit Bharat Challenge, Cultural Track, Hack for Social Cause, Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge, Youth Parliament, Design for Bharat.
Toppo urged youth to participate in the Viksit Bharat Quiz, the first stage of the selection process. Quiz winners will advance to the essay competition, followed by district-level PPT presentations.
Digital Quiz will be held from August 17 – September 30, Essay Round from October 5 – 15, District PPT Round from October 27 – November 16, and State VBYLD from November 17 – December 7.
The State-level VBYLD will include moderators from the Ministry and special judges. Selected participants will represent Nagaland at the National VBYLD, where top performers will interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The national contingent will comprise 1,224 participants, including 36 from each State and 27 from each Union Territory. Nagaland, part of the North East Frontier Region (Purvodaya), will focus on the theme “Act East, Cultural Leadership & Enhancing Connectivity.”
The Cultural Track will progress through district, State, and national levels, featuring folk dance, folk song, painting, poetry writing, and Nukkad Natak. Innovation tracks such as Design for Bharat, Hack for Social Cause, and Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge will emphasise design solutions, technology-driven social innovations, and scalable startup ideas.
The Youth Parliament will also advance from district to State and national levels, with three finalists from each State/UT competing nationally.
Toppo highlighted Nagaland’s strong performance in youth programmes, particularly in Youth Parliament and cultural activities. He recalled the Northeast Youth Festival hosted at Chümoukedima, Dimapur, in March, which saw participation from 1,500 youth across the region. Nagaland has also earned recognition in cultural tracks such as Western guitar and classical guitar.
As part of the State-level festival, the third edition of “Sonic Showdown” will be held on September 29, in collaboration with TaFMA. Eight school bands will compete, with the winner receiving Rs. 1 lakh. Other finalists will be awarded second, third, and consolation prizes, ensuring recognition for all top eight bands.
Toppo explained that Nagaland’s schedule was adjusted to align with its academic calendar, which concludes in December. While the quiz, essay, and PPT rounds will follow national timelines, the Cultural Track will be conducted according to the State’s schedule.
District-level competitions are expected to conclude by September 20, after which districts will submit participant lists for the State-level programme.
At the State level, governments are tasked with: Nominating State Nodal Officers; facilitating youth participation in the quiz; mobilising youth through administrations, institutions, NSS, and MY Bharat networks; organising district-level cultural and PPT rounds; conducting the two-day State VBYLD with representation from all districts; inviting the Governor and Chief Minister; selecting participants for the National VBYLD and arranging travel; coordinating with the Department of Youth Affairs and submitting reports.
The Centre will provide Rs. 30 lakh to each State and Rs. 20 lakh to each Union Territory, with 25% released initially. The MY Bharat portal will serve as the single-window platform for registration, quiz and essay submissions, participant tracking, certificate generation, and communication.
The VBYLD aims to create a structured pathway for youth participation from district to State to national levels, promoting integration, leadership, innovation, and meaningful youth involvement in shaping the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.