Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla inaugurated the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2026 event on June 16, 2026, at the historic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. The event was organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with Parliamentary Research & Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) of Lok Sabha Secretariat. Addressing young participants from across the nation, Shri Birla emphasized that they were standing in the Hall that symbolizes India's great democratic traditions and urged them to draw inspiration from the Constitution as they deliberate on the roadmap for a Viksit Bharat.
Shri Birla highlighted the massive scale of youth engagement in India's democratic process, noting that over 5 million youth are now actively associated with the Youth Parliament programme. He stated that this diverse gathering transcends states, languages, and cultural backgrounds but is united by the singular resolve of realizing the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. The Speaker emphasized that the onus for achieving this dream rests on the youth and lauded the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for steering the nation's youth toward constructive nation-building, describing the platform as a vital incubator for democratic values, dialogue, and leadership.
The Speaker asserted that democracy is deeply embedded in India's work culture and ancient traditions, noting that India's democratic systems evolved since antiquity through ancient Sabhas and Samitis, leading to 75 years of continuously strengthening public participation and institutional growth. He praised the architects of the Indian Constitution for guaranteeing equal rights to all citizens from the Republic's inception, particularly highlighting India's immediate adoption of universal adult franchise as a historic milestone where unlike many nations where women received voting rights later, India chose absolute equality from the outset.
Shri Birla emphasized women's increasing leadership roles, noting their significant contributions from science and technology to agriculture and national security. He revealed that women's participation in local bodies has reached a historic 50 percent across several states and termed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam a decisive step to mirror this success at the highest legislative levels, asserting that the Act will permanently solidify women's representation in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Secretary General of Lok Sabha Shri Utpal Kumar Singh, and Secretary Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil from Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports were present at the inauguration. The event featured extensive social media engagement from the Speaker's official account, highlighting women's contributions to nation-building across various sectors including science, technology, administration, education, medicine, agriculture, and national security.