LG Sinha Flags Off Jammu Kashmir Youth Contingent for National Youth Festival | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday virtually flagged off a 53-member youth contingent from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the 29th National Youth Festival, titled Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue–2026, to be held in New Delhi.

The contingent will represent Jammu and Kashmir at the national event at Bharat Mandapam from January 10 to 12, 2026, under the Viksit Bharat Challenge Track and the Cultural and Innovation Track. The festival is organised annually to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January 12 and focuses on youth empowerment and national unity.

Addressing the participants through virtual interaction, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the youth for qualifying through local-level competitions and reaching the national platform, describing their selection as a reflection of the potential of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth.

The LG said that youth is defined by mindset rather than age and urged the participants to demonstrate courage, curiosity, and a commitment to nation-building. Referring to Swami Vivekananda’s call to “arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached”, he encouraged the youth to remain disciplined and resilient while pursuing their goals.

He stressed that leadership lies in creating opportunities for others and advised the participants to focus on character building, lifelong learning, and developing future-ready capabilities to contribute towards a developed India.

Commissioner/Secretary Youth Services and Sports Yasha Mudgal, Director General Youth Services and Sports Anuradha Gupta, senior officials, and members of the contingent were present during the virtual flag-off ceremony.