Viksit Bharat Youth Conclave-2026 to Bring Together Young People from Across India – CM Fadnavis

Mumbai, August 12:  Maharashtra is set to host the three-day ‘Viksit Bharat Youth Conclave-2026’ in Pune to provide young people from Maharashtra and across the country with opportunities in sports, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and culture. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence that the conclave would serve as a platform connecting youth from across India.

A meeting of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services was held today at Varsha under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, O.P. Gupta, Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Ranjit Singh Deol, Commissioner, Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Deepak Singla, and senior administrative officials were present.

Around 1,000 Delegates to Participate

The national-level youth conclave will be held at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune, with participation from all States and Union Territories. Around 30 to 35 representatives from each State and Union Territory are expected to participate, taking the total number of delegates to nearly 1,000.

Maharashtra will have around 300 representatives, while approximately 700 delegates will come from other States and Union Territories. Chief Minister Fadnavis directed officials to make arrangements to attract more than one lakh young people from across Maharashtra during the three-day festival.

The Viksit Bharat Youth Conclave-2026 has been envisioned as a national platform to bring together India’s youth through sports, innovation and culture. The initiative aims to develop leadership qualities among young people, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, celebrate India’s cultural diversity, encourage healthy lifestyles and strengthen national integration.

Three Experience Zones: Warrior, Future and Cultural

The Chief Minister directed that the conclave be conceptualised around three experience zones Warrior, Future and Cultural offering young people hands-on exposure to sports, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, culture and healthy living.

The Warrior Zone will focus on developing strength, discipline and courage among youth. It will feature self-defence workshops, sports science, nutrition, sports psychology and a range of sporting activities. Experiential activities such as an Army obstacle course, wall climbing, reaction-time arena and fitness programmes will also be included.

Recognising Pune’s position as a major technology and innovation hub, the Chief Minister directed that the Future Zone should focus on strengthening the technological capabilities of young people and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Cultural Zone will bring together creativity, healthy living and Maharashtra’s rich cultural heritage. Competitions and activities showcasing folk arts, folk music, folk dance, painting and photography will be organised.

The zone will also feature activities such as yoga, meditation, mental wellness and breathing exercises. Participants will be introduced to local handicrafts, Warli and Paithani art, traditional Maharashtrian cuisine and sustainable lifestyles.

Fully Digital Registration System

Chief Minister Fadnavis directed officials to develop a completely digital registration system for the conclave.

The system will include online registration, State-wise nominations, document verification, QR-code-based digital identity cards, a mobile programme guide and real-time notifications. These facilities will help ensure effective management of participant registration, entry and participation in various activities.

Greater Private Sector Participation in Sports

The meeting also focused on increasing private sector participation in sports. With substantial funding expected from the Union Government under the Khelo India programme, the Chief Minister directed Maharashtra to ensure effective participation in central schemes.

He also called for greater private investment and public-private partnerships in the sports sector and suggested coordination with sports foundations established by corporate organisations for the development of sports infrastructure.

Chief Minister Fadnavis emphasised that taking Maharashtra to the forefront of the sports sector over the coming decade would require not only sustained government efforts but also strong participation from the private sector.