The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through MY Bharat-National Service Scheme (NSS), organized a nationwide "Health Walk/Run – Step Up, Stay Addiction-Free" on October 1, 2026, as part of the "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat" campaign. The event marked Week 3 intervention under the campaign's Month 1 theme "My Health, My Pride" and was conducted across 198 targeted institutions and their adopted villages.
The initiative aimed to promote regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices while demonstrating youth commitment to an addiction-free society. Events commenced with guided warm-up sessions led by physical training instructors and fitness club trainers, followed by flag-offs by local sports officials, youth leaders, and dignitaries. Participants undertook designated walk/run routes led by MY Bharat Youth Volunteers along with community members and local stakeholders.
Several locations incorporated Heritage Walks, enabling participants to combine physical activity with appreciation of local history and heritage. The events also featured the Nasha Mukt Yuva Sankalp, where participating youth pledged to maintain a substance-free lifestyle and contribute to awareness about harmful effects of substance abuse. Volunteers used banners, placards, and slogans to reinforce the campaign message and shared information on available counseling and support services.
The nationwide drive witnessed total participation of 1,11,112 youth. The Health Walk/Run component recorded 39,288 participants (19,012 male and 20,276 female) covering a cumulative distance of 712.3 kilometres. The Heritage Walk component had 30,986 participants (15,964 male and 15,022 female) covering 573 kilometres. Additionally, 40,838 young individuals (19,885 male and 20,953 female) took the Nasha Mukt Yuva Sankalp pledge.
The activity was implemented under the "Prevent" pillar of the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat campaign, focusing on prevention through awareness, positive engagement, and healthy lifestyle choices. The campaign seeks to build sustained awareness among young people about substance abuse risks and encourage informed, healthy lifestyle choices through nationwide interventions engaging youth and communities in prevention-focused activities.