SHILLONG, JAN 6: Meghalaya has deputed a delegation of 25 youth leaders along with four officials to represent the state at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from January 9 to 12.
The 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, State Youth Officer and Nodal Officer for Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, Bobby Wahlang, said the programme is a major component of the 29th National Youth Festival 2026. He informed that the event comprises four key segments—Youth Leaders Dialogue, Cultural Tracks, Design for Bharat and Hack for Social Change.
Wahlang said 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 (NIT), 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 persons to access time and notifications through tactile Braille output, with a strong focus on affordability, portability and ease of use. The innovators are currently in New Delhi preparing for their national-level presentation.
Providing details of the selection process, Wahlang said 2,393 youth from Meghalaya participated in the initial 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 December 13, 2025, culminating in the final national selection.
He further informed that 23 youth artists from Meghalaya will represent the state in traditional folk song and dance, while three youth will participate in declamation, poetry and painting competitions at the national level.
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 December 2 to 5, 2025.
The Meghalaya contingent, comprising around 50 members, departed for New Delhi on Tuesday and is scheduled to reach the national capital ahead of the commencement of the festival.
During the four-day event, participants will engage in selection rounds, thematic discussions, leadership dialogues, cultural showcases and presentations before expert panels, along with orientation sessions and visits.
The youth will also get an opportunity to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on National Youth Day, January 12, 2026.
The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 aligns with the Government of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, which aims to transform India into a developed nation by the centenary year of Independence, with youth playing a central role in nation-building.