Mangaluru: St. Agnes College (Autonomous) successfully hosted the two-day district-level Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Program on March 22 and 23, 2025. The event was jointly organized by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, National Service Scheme (NSS), Mangalore University, and St. Agnes College.

A Platform for Youth Empowerment

The program aimed to engage and empower young minds by providing them a platform to discuss and deliberate on key national issues. The primary objective was to enhance awareness among youth about the Indian Constitution and the Parliamentary system, fostering a sense of responsibility and civic participation.

The event saw participation from over 150 students representing Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kodagu districts, selected from over 300 districts nationwide. These participants competed in a three-minute speech competition on the topic “One Nation, One Election”, expressing their views on electoral reforms and governance.

Inauguration and Keynote Address

The program was inaugurated by Sr Dr M Venissa, Principal of St. Agnes College, who underscored the crucial role of youth in shaping India’s future. She stated:

“Students are the future leaders of the country. The youth have a significant responsibility to protect the integrity and heritage of the country. Our goal should be to brighten the future of the country through poverty eradication and women empowerment.”

Distinguished Guests and Judges

The event was attended by several notable dignitaries, including:

  • Lokesh Kumar – Deputy Director, Nehru Yuva Kendra

  • Prof. Dayanand Nayak – Lecturer, Political Science, Mangalore University

  • Dr. Sheshappa Amin K – National Service Scheme Coordinator

  • Dr. Udayakumar B – NSS Programme Officer, St. Agnes College

  • Jagadish K – Administrative Assistant, Nehru Yuva Kendra

    • The panel of judges for the Youth Parliament competition included:

    • Prof. Dayanand Nayak

  • P.B. Harish Rai – Senior Journalist

  • Pushparaj B.N. – Senior Journalist

  • Advocate Nishan N.

  • Roopashree Dharmaiah Sharma

    • Event Coordination and Participation

    • Dhanyashree (II BSc) compered the inaugural program.

  • Prapthi (I BSc) compered the valedictory session.

    • The competition provided a valuable platform for students to engage in meaningful discussions about India’s democratic and constitutional principles, fostering critical thinking and informed perspectives.

    State-Level Competition and Winners

    The top 10 winners from the district-level competition qualified for the state-level round in Bengaluru on 27 March 2025. The topics for the state-level Youth Parliament include:

    1. 75 Years of the Indian Constitution: A Journey of Rights, Duties, and Progress

  • The 11 Sankalp of Samvidhan Divas: A Pledge to Strengthen India’s Constitutional Values

    • Winners advancing to the state-level competition:

    • Abhijay N.S.

  • Shourya H.S.

  • Sahana Praveen Bhandari

  • Mariyam Fasnath Faza

  • Christon Joshua Menezes

  • Privy D’Souza

  • T. Sharanya

  • Charlie Saraswati

  • Avinash Paul Fernandes

  • Manu Shetty

    • Conclusion

    The Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament successfully brought together students, government officials, and stakeholders to deliberate on pressing national issues. The event underscored the importance of youth engagement in democracy, equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary for informed civic participation.