The MY Bharat Budget Quest 2026 – North Eastern Region
NATIONAL: The MY Bharat Budget Quest 2026 – North Eastern Region, organised by Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, concluded in Shillong with an engaging virtual interaction by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. 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 stressed 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 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.
The programme brought together outstanding young participants who had qualified through a rigorous multi-stage national competition. Over 15,000 youth from across different 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 Mariahom Kharkhang; Retd IPS officer and social worker. Other dignitaries present included Dinobondhu Saha, Regional Director, MY Bharat (North Eastern Region); Bimal Patrick Shah, Joint Director; Mehbub Alam Laskar, Joint Director; Ataur Rahman, Joint Director and Bobby Wahlang, State Youth Officer, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, \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 Albert Chiang, OSD Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), Wanshan Kharkrang, Joint Secretary, Forest and Environment, Akhilesh Singh, CEO Earthtree and 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 Michael Makri, Director, Don Bosco Youth Center , 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.