26th National Youth Festival

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is National Youth Festival?
• What are the aims of National Youth Festival?
• News Summary: 26th National Youth Festival
• What are the key highlights of the speech delivered by PM Modi during the inauguration of the 26th National Youth Festival?

Why in news?

• Prime Minister Modi inaugurateed this year’s National Youth Festival at Huballi, Karnataka on 12th January on the occasion of birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

What is National Youth Festival?

• The National Youth Festival in India is an annual gathering of youth with various activities including competitive ones. 
• Celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of youth icon Swami Vivekananda, it is organized by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with one of the State Governments. 
• Thus, it is held in a different state each year during National Youth Week, 12 to 16 January every year.
  • Swami Vivekananda’s birthday on January 12 is always celebrated as National Youth Day and the week commencing from that day is known as the National Youth Week.
• The activities held during the festival include competitive and non-competitive cultural events, martial arts, exhibitions, intellectual discourses, young artists camps, seminars and adventure programmes. 
• The presentation of National Youth Awards also takes place.

What are the aims of National Youth Festival?

• The youth festival aims to propagate the concept of national integration, spirit of communal harmony, brotherhood, courage and adventure amongst the youth by exhibiting their cultural prowess in a common platform. 
• This is done by organizing gatherings of youth across the country and encouraging them to take part in different activities.
• This festival also provides a nationwide exposure to the youth for the expression and fulfillment of their cultural talents and aspirations.

News Summary: 26th National Youth Festival

• The 26th National Youth Festival has been inaugurated by PM Modi at Hubballi- Dharwad, Karnataka.
• The festival is being organized by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports in collaboration with Government of Karnataka.
• Theme of the festival this year is ‘Viksit Yuva Viksit Bharat’.

What are the key highlights of the speech delivered by PM Modi during the inauguration of the 26^th National Youth Festival?

• Describing the youth of the nation as ‘Yuva Shakthi’, he said that Yuva Shakthi’s aspirations will decide its destination and its passion will decide India’s path.
• PM Modi stressed that there was great optimism in the world towards India and its youth. Global industries are looking towards India.
• He termed it as a historic moment when optimism and opportunity were coming together. 
• To ensure that the 21st century is India’s century, he urged the youth to think 10 steps ahead.
• PM Modi advised the youth to take lessons from Swami Vivekananda to forge ahead in life, key being the advice that there were three phases for any new idea — “ridicule”, “opposition” and “acceptance”.
• Even in Sports, India is going ahead towards becoming a major global power. This is becoming possible due to the capability of the youth of India.
• The Prime Minister eulogised the woman power of the country and said that the daughters are “scaling heights in every field”.
  • Today women of India are flying fighter jets, joining the army. They are scaling heights in every field like science, technology and space. 
  • It is an announcement that India is moving towards its goal with full force.

Q1) Why is National Youth Festival celebrated in India?

The National Youth Festival is held every year to provide exposure to country’s talented youth at the national level, along with galvanising them towards nation building.

Q2) Which is National Youth Day in India?

The Government of India declared January 12 as National Youth Day in 1984. The National Youth Day is celebrated in India on January 12 every year, which is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, one of the country’s most influential spiritual leaders.

Source: Runway ready for youth to take off and achieve new heights: PM Modi in Karnataka   |   Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports   |   PIB