Page 24 - Mann ki Baat (English)

Young Minds Reimagining

India

India is the youngest nation in the world by demographic profile,
and the strength of its youth has long been recognised as a cornerstone
of national progress. The MY Bharat Budget Quest 2026, organised
by Mera Yuva Bharat under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports,
emerged as a unique initiative that brought the Union Budget closer to
the youth of the country, enabling them to understand its priorities and
actively contribute ideas for India's development journey.
The first stage of the Budget Quest witnessed over 12,00,000
youth participants from all states and Union Territories. After the
quiz, approximately 160,000 participants were selected for the essay
competition. The initiative produced more than policy engagement —
it was a window into how young Indians, from agrarian heartlands to
rapidly growing towns, are thinking about the future of their nation.
Among the themes that resonated most strongly was farmer
welfare — a subject that is not merely academic for many participants,
but deeply personal.
Kotla Raghuveer Reddy, an agriculture student at Professor

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