National Youth Festival 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 27th National Youth Festival 2024 in Nashik, Maharashtra on January 12. On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed about one lakh youth participants. He said that this program will showcase the youth power of the country and the youth of the country will take a pledge to make India developed by the year 2047, which will be the 100th year of Indian independence.

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• National Youth Festival 2024 was celebrated by all the regional organisations of the Department of Youth Affairs in districts across India in collaboration with several Government departments.
• In collaboration with NSS units, NYKS and many educational institutions, ‘My India’ volunteers across the country added their energy to carry out volunteer activities for India. Youth clubs also brought their vibrant energy to the celebrations, ensuring a truly inclusive atmosphere. Over 88,000 volunteers participated in the National Youth Festival 2024.
• Road safety awareness programmes were organised in major cities and 750 district headquarters across the country on 12 January.

Theme of National Youth Festival 2024: MYBharat@2024-By the Youth, For the Youth

Objective of National Youth Festival 2024

• To promote the spirit of national unity and integrity among the youth.
• To make them aware of innovative ideas, technologies and education.
• To promote leadership skills and self-confidence among the youth.
• To make them aware of employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
• National Youth Festival 2024 bring women, SC/ST and OBC youth into the mainstream.
• To promote creativity and innovation among youth through sports, art and culture.
• To make the youth aware of health, environment and society.

Importance

• Source of inspiration and confidence: It provides an opportunity to the youth to showcase their talent and abilities, thereby building confidence and motivation in them.
• Skill development: Various workshops and training sessions are organized during the festival which help in skill development of the youth.
• Networking and interaction: It provides an opportunity to the youth to meet and interact with other youth from across the country, thereby expanding their network and sharing new ideas.
• Cultural diversity: Here youth from different parts of the country showcase their culture and traditions, thereby creating respect for diversity among people.
• Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship: The festival provides a platform to the youth to showcase their innovative ideas and entrepreneurship.
• National unity and integrity: This event strengthens the spirit of national unity and integrity among the youth.

About National Youth Day

• It is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 12 January every year.
• It is organised in collaboration with one of the state governments which is organised in a different state every year during the National Youth Festival.
• The National Youth Festival was celebrated in the year 1995 under the National Integration Camp (NIC) programme.
• From the year 2019, National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) is also celebrated as a part of the National Youth Festival.

History

• In the year 1984, on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on 12 January, the United Nations declared this day as the International Youth Year.
• This day is being celebrated in India since the year 1985.
• The purpose of this day is to highlight the thoughts, aspirations and problems of the youth and inspire them.
• On this day, youth are also honored for their achievements and contributions.

About Swami Vivekananda

• Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863 in Calcutta.
• Vivekananda is also known as the founder of Bharatiya Yuvak Sangh.
• He got global recognition in the ‘World’s Parliament of Religions’ in Chicago in the year 1893.
• He used to inspire the youth to educate themselves and contribute to nation building.

National Youth Festival 2024 for Parliament

• National Youth Festival 2024 for Parliament was organized across the country from 9 February 2024 to 6 March 2024.
• This youth parliament was organized at three levels covering 785 districts of the country.

Background

• The National Youth Parliament Festival is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and National Service Scheme (NSS) at three levels:

1. District Youth Parliament
2. State Youth Parliament
3. National Youth Parliament 

• The objective of these Youth Parliaments is to strengthen the roots of democracy, develop healthy habits of discipline, show tolerance towards others’ views and make the youth aware of the workings and procedures of the Parliament.
• The National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) is based on the idea expressed by the Prime Minister in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address on 31 December 2017.

First National Youth Parliament Festival 2019

• It was held during 12 January to 27 February 2019 at district, state and national level.

2nd National Youth Parliament Festival 2021

• The event was organised from 23rd December 2020 to 12th January 2021 at district, state levels through virtual mode and at national level on 11th – 12th January 2021 through physical mode in Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi.
• During the closing ceremony on 12th January 2021, Prime Minister virtually addressed the National Youth Parliament and the youth of the country in the august presence of Speaker of Lok Sabha and Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports (Independent Charge), Minister of Education.

3rd National Youth Parliament Festival-2022

• It was held virtually at District and State levels from 14th February to 27th February, 2022 and virtually at National level on 10th and 11th March, 2022 in Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi.

4th National Youth Parliament Festival 2022-2023

• It was conducted at the district and state levels from 25 January to 29 January 2023 and 3 February to 7 February 2023 respectively through virtual mode and at the national level on 1 March and 2 March 2023 through physical mode in the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi.

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