The Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), has launched the first phase of the Viksit Vibrant Village Program (VVVP) 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots engagement, promote national integration, and support sustainable development in India’s border villages.
A total of 500 MY Bharat volunteers have been selected through a nationwide online quiz competition that attracted participation from more than three lakh young people. The volunteers, representing all States and Union Territories, will be deployed in two phases across identified border villages in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
During the first phase, 250 volunteers will engage with communities in 43 border villages, while the remaining 250 volunteers will participate in the second phase later this month across 50 additional villages.
The programme offers young citizens a unique opportunity to live in border villages and interact closely with local communities. Volunteers will engage with village residents, Panchayati Raj Institutions, district administrations, and security personnel to gain firsthand understanding of the socio-economic conditions, cultural heritage, developmental aspirations, and strategic importance of India’s frontier regions.
The seven-day immersion programme focuses on several key themes, including border awareness, cultural exchange, community living, governance, socio-economic assessment, village development planning, volunteerism, and national integration. Participants will conduct household surveys, take part in Gram Sabha meetings, contribute to cleanliness and environmental initiatives, and help identify development opportunities within villages.
A major component of the programme is the promotion of the Nation First Challenge, a nationwide campaign encouraging responsible citizenship and sustainable lifestyles. MY Bharat volunteers will advocate five key themes: adoption of Swadeshi products, healthy cooking practices, use of public transport and fuel conservation, promotion of natural farming, and support for local tourism. Through awareness campaigns and community outreach activities, volunteers will encourage residents to embrace these nation-focused and environmentally sustainable practices.
The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). It aligns with the Government of India’s vision of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 through active youth participation in nation-building efforts.
Extensive preparations have been undertaken at national, state, and district levels to ensure smooth implementation. Coordination mechanisms involving MY Bharat, ITBP, State Governments, District Administrations, and local stakeholders have been established. Dedicated control rooms, nodal officers, village action plans, participant orientation programmes, and logistical arrangements have also been put in place.
The Viksit Vibrant Village Program 2026 reflects the Government’s commitment to empowering young people as active partners in nation-building while strengthening social, cultural, and developmental ties between India’s youth and its border communities.
