SHILLONG, JAN 6: A 25 youth delegates along with four officials will be representing Meghalaya in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 to be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from January 9 to 12.
These delegates were selected through a rigorous multi-stage process that began with an online quiz conducted during September–October 2025.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Bobby Wahlang, State Youth Officer and Nodal Officer for Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, who is leading the Meghalaya contingent to New Delhi stated that the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is a key component of the 29th National Youth Festival 2026 and comprises four major components—Youth Leaders Dialogue, Cultural Tracks, Design for Bharat and Hack for Social Change.
Wahlang informed that Meghalaya is participating in the Youth Leaders Dialogue, Cultural Tracks and Design for Bharat categories.
Under the Design for Bharat track, two students from the National Institute of Technology, Shillong, Nishant Kumar Singh and Neeharika Singh, have been selected at the national level for their innovation, a Smart Braille Watch.
The assistive wearable device enables visually impaired individuals to access time and notifications through tactile Braille output, with a focus on affordability, portability and ease of use. The innovators are currently in New Delhi preparing for their national-level presentation.
From Meghalaya, 2,393 youth participated in the quiz, of which 475 qualified for the essay round. Following blind evaluation by domain experts as per guidelines of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, 88 youth advanced to the State Championship held on 13 December 2025, culminating in the final national selection.
Wahlang also informed that 23 youth artists from Meghalaya will represent the state in traditional folk song and dance at the national level, while three youth will participate in declamation, poetry and painting competitions.
These participants were selected from among 1,000 youth who took part in the State-level Chief Minister’s Youth Engagement Programme held at the NEHU campus from 2 to 5 December 2025.
The Meghalaya contingent, comprising around 50 members, is departing for New Delhi today and is scheduled to reach the national capital ahead of the commencement of the festival. During the four-day event, the youth will participate in selection rounds, thematic discussions, leadership dialogues, cultural showcases and presentations before expert panels.
The programme also includes visits, orientation sessions and interactions with national icons.
The youth will get an opportunity to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the festival, on National Youth Day on 12 January 2026.
The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 aligns with the Government of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, which seeks to transform India into a developed nation by the centenary year of independence.
The vision focuses on inclusive growth, sustainability and effective governance, with youth playing a central role in shaping the country’s future.
