NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL

VENUE: HUBBALLI-DHARWAD DATE: 12 TO 16 JANUARY 2023

THE CONTEXT : The National Youth Festival in India is an annual gathering of youth with various
activities including competitive ones. Celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of youth icon
Swami Vivekananda, it is organized by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India in
collaboration with one of the State Governments. Thus it is held in a different state each year during
National Youth Week, 12 to 16 January every year.

Swami Vivekananda’s birthday on January 12 is always celebrated as National Youth Day and the week
commencing from that day is known as the National Youth Week. The youth festival aims to propagate
the concept of national integration, spirit of communal harmony, brotherhood, courage and adventure
amongst the youth by exhibiting their cultural prowess in a common platform. This is done by organizing
gatherings of youth across the country and encouraging them to take part in different activities.

Crucial components of the National Youth Festival are the competitive events. To compete at the
national level, the young talents perform their level best to get themselves medals and awards. To
conduct these competitions, eighteen in all disciplines, a team of officers was deployed who managed
the competitions, helped in creating logistical arrangements for smooth conduct of competitions,
collected and collated the results.

The activities held during the festival include competitive and non-competitive cultural events, martial
arts, exhibitions, intellectual discourses, young artists camps, seminars and adventure programmes.

OBJECTIVES: The National Youth Festival began in 1995 as a major activity under the Programme
of National Integration Camp (NIC). In collaboration with one of the States and institutions like Nehru
Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and the National Service Scheme (NSS), the Government of India
conducts this Programme every year. Like the National Youth Festival, States are also encouraged to
hold state level, district level and block level youth festivals in the same format as that of the National
Youth Festival. The Centre of the festival focuses on cultural aspects and a number of other programmes
covering a wide variety of activities, which not only reflect the spirit of friendship but also peace and
development. Besides all this, this festival provides a nationwide exposure to the youth for the
expression and fulfillment of their cultural talents and aspirations.

5 DAYS THEMES : In this session, the participating youth got an opportunity to learn through the
keynote address of eminent persons and also to express their views on the day-wise topics identified on
concurrent global issues which are as under:
Day 1 Theme – “Future of work, Industry, Innovation and 21 st Century Skills”.

•Sub Themes /Topics:

i) New Education Policy

ii) Start-up India Policy

Day 2 Theme – “Climate change and disaster-risk-reduction”.

•Sub Themes/Topics:

i) Mission life (Solar Energy)

ii) Conservation of water

Day 3 Theme – “Peace building and Reconciliation”.

•Sub Themes / Topics:

i) Conflict Resolution
ii) India the mother of Democracy

Day 4 Theme – “Shared future – youth in democracy and governance”.

•Sub Themes / Topics:

i) Student Centric Governance

ii) Digital India.

Day 5 Theme – “Health & Wellbeing”

•Sub Themes / Topics:

i) Mental fitness
ii) Ayush
I am very grateful to had this opportunity. The exposure I got to young artists, competitive and non-
competitive cultural events, exhibitions, intellectual discourses, martial arts, adventure programs etc.
had a profound impact on my perspective and thought process. Having a chance to learn an engage with
people from different cultures, race, religion, sector, etc. makes an individual open minded and cultivate
respect towards those difference from them.

As all the five days had a different theme, we had a chance to look into various concurrent global issues.

•On day 01 we learnt about Future of work, Industry, Innovation and 21 st Century Skills along with New
Education Policy & Start-up India Policy. It reflects the blueprint on how we can become among the top
03 world economies.

• On day 02 we dived into the climate change issues and disaster-risk-reduction. Discussed about water
conservation and how solar energy paves a way towards sustainable energy.

• The very need of Peace building & Reconciliation was topic of day 03. Also how India being the largest
democracy plays a vital role on global factors and conflict resolution.

• Day 04 was engaged with discussions on youth’s involvement in democracy and governance. Also
India’s stand in this digital era.

• Day 05 focus on health & well-being. How various schemes and campaigns are launched for mental
health & Ayush as well.

The winners of the events were motivated and strived for future success. We were presented with ‘The
Tiranga’ as memento and certificate of appreciation. I’m also grateful to my program officer Dr. Harshad
Thakkar sir, respected principal Dr. Karshan Chothani sir and our university co-ordinater DR. N.P. Verma
sir to guide me on every step. They too were elated and proud as I emerged as winner of various state &
national level competitions.