Pulwama, Feb 27: District Level Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament (VBYP) 2026 was organized under the aegis of the Yuva Connect Programme 2026 at Government Degree College, Pulwama.
The programme marked a significant step in aligning youth participation with the national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, aiming to empower young citizens to engage meaningfully in democratic discourse and policy dialogue.
VBYP 2026 represents the re-envisioned format of the National Youth Parliament Festival, designed to provide an inclusive and immersive platform for youth aged 18–25.
The district-level event served as the foundational round, enabling participants to deliberate on contemporary national issues and demonstrate leadership, articulation, and critical thinking skills.
The formal proceedings began with an Introduction by the Stage Secretary, Dr. Nadia Shah, Senior Assistant Professor, GDC Pulwama, who outlined the significance of VBYP 2026 and the objectives of the district-level round.
Tanushree, SSP Pulwama, spoke about the responsibility of the youth in maintaining social harmony and upholding constitutional values.
The Principal GDC Pulwama, Dr. Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, in his address emphasized the transformative role of youth in nation-building and underscored the importance of disciplined democratic engagement.
Shahbaz Ahmad Bodha, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), Pulwama, highlighted the importance of civic awareness and responsible citizenship in achieving sustainable development goals.
Pradeep Kumar, Deputy Director, My Bharat Pulwama, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, gave a special address emphasizing the importance and respect for democratic values, rules, and structured deliberation.
The keynote address was delivered by Youth Icon, Aneesa Iqbal, who inspired participants to harness their potential and channel their aspirations into constructive democratic engagement and social entrepreneurship. The programme focused on structured parliamentary debate and deliberation.
The Debate Session was held on topic “50 Years of Emergency: Lessons for Indian Democracy”, which was followed by the Question–Answer Session, allowing the speaker and members of the house to seek clarifications and further insights from participants.
This segment enhanced critical engagement and reflective discourse. The participants spoke both in Hindi and English, thus displaying their oratory skills.
The top positions were secured by Saboora Iqbal of KCEF Law College, Pulwama (1st), Jozea Sajad of KCEF Law College, Pulwama (2nd), and Hinah Farooq of GDC Pulwama (3rd).
The first ten positions were felicitated with Certificates and Mementos. The meritorious participants’ names were recommended for the State-Level Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2026. Other participants and student delegates were felicitated with Certificates of Participation.
