Shillong, Jan 2: The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with My Bharat Kendra, organised a Meet and Greet programme at Lok Bhavan, Governor’s House, Shillong, on Wednesday to felicitate youth delegates selected for the National Youth Festival – Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026.
The programme was graced by the Governor of Meghalaya, Shri C. H. Vijayashankar, who interacted with the selected youth and congratulated them for qualifying through a rigorous national-level selection process. He described the delegates as representatives of the aspirations and potential of Meghalaya’s youth.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor emphasised that leadership is not about authority but about responsibility, character, discipline and service to society. He urged the youth to remain consistent and committed, and to utilise the national platform to present ideas that contribute meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat. Highlighting youth excellence from the state, he cited the example of Smt. Rifiness Warjri, an NCC cadet from Meghalaya who scaled Mount Everest at the age of 20, underscoring how clarity of purpose, planning and perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievements.
Meghalaya has secured national-level representation in the Viksit Bharat – Design for Bharat track through two students of NIT Shillong, Shri Nishant Kumar Singh and Smt. Necharika Singh. Their innovation, a Smart Braille Watch, is an assistive wearable device designed to help visually impaired individuals access time and notifications through tactile Braille output. The project focuses on affordability, portability and ease of use. The innovators are currently in New Delhi preparing to present their project before Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and national experts.
Sharing her aspirations, Miss Ashita Kar, a Class XI student from East Khasi Hills District, said she would present her vision on building a future-ready workforce for Viksit Bharat. She expressed hope that youth-driven ideas would be implemented towards achieving Viksit Bharat 2047.
Shri Akbarlang Synteng Nongdhar, who will represent Meghalaya in the Folk Dance category, said it was a matter of pride to showcase the state’s culture at the national level. Shri Elbonson Marbaniang, a football coach from Mawsynram, informed that the team would perform the traditional dance ‘Ka Shad Mastieh’ during the festival.
A total of 25 youth from Meghalaya have been selected for the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026. The selection followed a multi-stage process beginning with a nationwide online quiz conducted via the My Bharat Portal in September–October 2025, which saw participation from nearly 50 lakh youth across India. From Meghalaya, 2,393 youth took part, with 475 qualifying for the essay round. After blind evaluations, 88 participants advanced to the State Championship held on December 13, 2025, with final selections approved following leadership assessment interviews.
Additionally, 23 youth artists from Meghalaya will participate in the Cultural Track, while three youth will compete in declamation, poetry and painting events. These participants were selected from among 1,000 youth who took part in the State-level Chief Minister’s Youth Engagement Programme held at NEHU from December 2 to 5, 2025.
The selected youth delegates will interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 11, 2026, during the National Youth Festival.
The event was attended by Shri S. P. Singh, State Director, My Bharat Kendra; Shri F. Rummong, Deputy Director and State NSS Officer; Shri Paia Nongbri, Deputy Director, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs; Smt. Darlene Khonglam, Sports Officer; along with other officials.
The 29th National Youth Festival 2026 will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from January 9 to 12, 2026, featuring four key components—Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, Cultural Tracks, Design for Bharat, and Hack for Social Change.
