Latest Topics in News
Decode the Mera Yuva Bharat Initiative

Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) – New Government Initiative for Youth Development
- Mera Yuva Bharat recently approved by the Union Cabinet – to be launched on 31st Oct 2023
- Aims to empower youth and harness their energy for nation building
The Union Cabinet recently approved the establishment of ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ (MY Bharat), an autonomous body for youth development that will be officially launched on 31st October 2023. This new initiative aims to empower the youth of the country and enable them to realize their full potential, while also harnessing their energy for nation building.
The primary objective of Mera Yuva Bharat is to serve as an overarching enabling mechanism for youth development, powered by technology. Under this program, youth would gain access to resources and connections to opportunities that allow them to become change agents and active contributors to society. The initiative seeks to tap into the immense youth energy of the country for driving national progress.
Sections | Details |
---|---|
New government initiative – Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) |
|
India’s Youth Population |
|
Strategic Significance |
|
Evolution of Youth Policies |
|
Major Government Schemes and Programmes |
|
Salient Features of Mera Yuva Bharat |
|
Desired Outcomes |
|
Definition of Youth
In India
- As per National Youth Policy 2014, 15-29 years
- Aligns with UN definition
As per the National Youth Policy 2014, the age group of 15-29 years is defined as ‘youth’ in India. This aligns with the United Nations definition of youth being individuals between the ages of 15-24 years. The UN definition is statistically oriented and used for comparison across countries in the annual yearbooks published by various UN agencies.
The definition of youth in India has evolved over time. The first National Youth Policy in 1988 considered youth to be in the age group of 15-35 years. This was subsequently revised to 13-35 years in the 2003 policy document. The current age range of 15-29 years came into effect with the National Youth Policy 2014, which continues to be followed.
Worldwide
- UN: 15-24 years
- Varies across countries and organizations
While the UN uses 15-24 years as its standard statistical definition of youth, this varies across countries and organizations globally. For instance, the African Youth Charter considers youth to be those between 15-35 years. UN Habitat’s Youth Fund follows the age range of 15-32 years.
Other UN agencies like UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA use overlapping definitions of Adolescents (10-19 years), Youth (15-24 years) and Young People (10-24 years). The Convention on Rights of the Child defines ‘child’ to be any person under the age of 18.
Therefore, while the UN statistical definition serves as a reference point, the operational definition of ‘youth’ is relative and nuanced based on socio-cultural, institutional, economic and political factors of individual member states.
Now let’s learn about some major Policies in India for Youths befor looking at the features and objective of New Mera Yuva Bharat initiative
Major Policies and Programmes for Youth in India
National Youth Policy
- Policy in 1987, 2003 and 2014
- Objectives and focus areas
The Government of India has come out with the National Youth Policy in 1987, 2003 and most recently in 2014. These policies reiterate the commitment towards all-round development of the youth in the country.
The objectives outlined across these policies aim to nurture citizenship values, social justice, community service, empowerment, skill development and productivity among youth. The focus areas encompass education, employment, entrepreneurship, sports, health, recreation, social values, national integration and enablement of marginalized groups.
Key Schemes
- Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram
- Components like NYKS, NSS, NPYAD etc
- Skill development schemes
- PMKVY, NAPS, NSDM etc
- Entrepreneurship promotion
- Startup India, Make in India etc
- Education
- NEP 2020, scholarships etc
- Health
- RKSK, Ayushman Bharat programme etc
Some major schemes and programmes by the Government targeting youth development are:
Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram (RYSK) – This umbrella scheme includes components like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme (NSS), and National Programme for Youth & Adolescent Development (NPYAD) among others.
Skill Development Schemes – Programmes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and National Skill Development Mission focus on enhancing skill-based education and employability of youth.
Entrepreneurship Promotion – Startup India and Make in India initiatives provide guidance and incentives to young entrepreneurs for building innovative companies and manufacturing in India.
Education – Implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and scholarship schemes make education accessible to youth across all levels.
Health – The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) and Ayushman Bharat programme specifically look at adolescent and youth health issues.
Through this multi-pronged approach, the Government aims to harness India’s demographic dividend by engaging youth and empowering them to be productive citizens.
Mera Yuva Bharat – Features and Objectives
- Launched under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- Features of the programme
- Key objectives
Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) has been launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to serve as an overarching enabling mechanism for youth development in India.
key features of Mera Yuva Bharat
Some key features of this programme include:
- Providing resources, opportunities and access to youth to become change agents in society.
- Harnessing technology to power youth development initiatives.
- Creating a centralized database related to youth programmes across the country.
- Enhancing communication between youth and government bodies.
- Establishing a phygital ecosystem combining physical and digital elements.
Objectives of Mera Yuva Bharat
The main objectives outlined for Mera Yuva Bharat are:
- To make it a holistic Government platform for youth development.
- To tap into youth energy for nation building activities.
- To improve outreach efforts for youth engagement.
Significance for Youth and India’s Development
- Harnessing demographic dividend
- Engaging youth in nation building
Mera Yuva Bharat holds significance for both the youth and the country’s development in the following ways:
- It aims to harness India’s demographic dividend by engaging the large young population productively.
- The programme will nurture youth leadership and involve them in becoming change agents.
- Providing resources and opportunities for youth education, employment and empowerment is crucial for national progress.
- With youth comprising 27% of India’s current population, their participation is key for realizing India’s economic potential.
- The scheme will boost skill development and entrepreneurship among youth.
- MY Bharat will also enable youth to contribute in nation building activities, thereby creating a sense of ownership.
So we can say, this initiative has the potential to translate India’s youth bulge into a demographic dividend by investing in the growth and development of young people.
Final Thoughts
The newly approved Mera Yuva Bharat programme aims to tap into the immense potential of India’s youth for driving national progress. With over 65% of the population under 35 years, India has the world’s largest youth population. The takeaway is that this demographic dividend can be reaped optimally by investing in youth education, skilling, employment and empowerment.
By providing the resources and opportunities for the holistic development of young people, India can nurture socially responsible leaders and innovators. The government’s policy initiatives and schemes like Mera Yuva Bharat play a pivotal role in unlocking the youth capacity for catalyzing growth. With the right mentoring and platforms, the youth of today can transform into change-makers and problem solvers taking India’s growth story forward.