Kohima: Nagaland state officials are pushing for mass youth participation in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2027. MY Bharat director Alphonce Toppo and representatives from the Directorate of Youth Resources and Sports launched the effort in Kohima. They expect 50 lakh participants nationwide, eventually narrowing to 3,000 finalists.
The program targets citizens aged 15 to 29. It runs through six specialized tracks including a Youth Parliament, a Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge for startup ideas, and various social cause hackathons. The initiative replaces the former National Youth Festival. District events run from September 1 through October 31. State rounds follow between November 17 and December 7. The national finals happen in Delhi from January 10 to 12, 2027.
Nagaland sits in the North East Frontier Region, or Purvodaya, which emphasizes the theme of Act East, Cultural Leadership and Enhancing Connectivity. Cultural events include folk dance, painting, poetry, and Nukad Natak. Kethosituo Sekhose, director of Youth Resources and Sports, confirmed that district-level challenges are already underway. Naroenla serves as the State Nodal Officer. The state-level youth festival is set for September 28, followed by a Sonic Showdown band competition at RCEMPA, Jotsoma, on September 29.
Pradeep J, the District Youth Officer for MY Bharat Kohima, urged local residents to seize this platform. "Your ideas matters, your talent matters, your voice matters and your participation matters," he said. Officials aim to ensure Nagaland’s creative talent and aspirations reach the national stage.
Updated at 11th September 2026 at 2:00pm
Toppo laid out a strict competition calendar. The digital quiz runs August 17 through September 30, followed by an essay round from October 5 to 15. Candidates who advance will face district-level presentation rounds between October 27 and November 16. The state-level event will feature ministry-appointed moderators and special judges, with winners heading to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The national contingent includes 1,224 slots, with 36 spots specifically reserved for Nagaland representatives.
The state's cultural track, which includes folk songs, now operates on a modified schedule to sync with local academic calendars that wrap up in December. The Sonic Showdown band competition at RCEMPA will feature eight school bands, with a top prize of Rs. 1 lakh. The center is pumping Rs. 30 lakh into Nagaland for logistics, with the first 25 percent of funding already cleared. Registration, quiz submissions, and official tracking will run through the MY Bharat portal.
Comments