Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, 26 July said the government has made sustained and concrete efforts to empower young Indians through job creation, skill development, and direct participation in policymaking — all aimed at realising the Viksit Bharat vision. She was speaking at the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards 2026 in Mumbai.

Jobs and Appointments

Sitharaman said government efforts have yielded measurable results, citing the distribution of more than 12 lakh appointment letters in the central government through the Rozgar Melas. She framed this as evidence that the administration's youth-empowerment agenda has moved beyond rhetoric into tangible outcomes.

'Keeping Viksit Bharat in mind, the government has made sustained and concrete efforts to empower young Indians by equipping them with the skills, opportunities, confidence and platforms they need to realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to the nation's progress,' the Finance Minister said.

Internships and Skills Pipeline

Sitharaman highlighted the PM Internship Scheme as a flagship initiative to bridge the gap between education and enterprise. 'Through the PM Internship Scheme, we are giving young Indians their first real exposure to enterprise, with internships in the country's top 500 companies,' she stated. The scheme is designed to give first-generation professionals hands-on industry experience before entering the formal workforce.

Youth in Policymaking

The Finance Minister underscored the government's push to make young people active participants — not just beneficiaries — of policy. She revealed that one of her first acts after presenting this year's Union Budget was an informal interaction with college students drawn from across the country and from varied academic disciplines. 'First thing I did after presentation of this year's budget was to have a free-wheeling conversation with young college students who came to Delhi from all regions of this country representing varied academic domains,' she said.

She also pointed to the MyGovIndia portal, through which young citizens submit Budget suggestions — several of which, she said, are incorporated into the final document. This positions youth engagement as a structural input into fiscal planning, not merely a consultative exercise.

Sports Policy and International Exposure

Sitharaman cited the National Sports Policy 2025 as another pillar of the youth agenda, noting that it aims to provide athletes with modern facilities, sports science support, medical care, technology-based performance analysis, world-class coaching, and early international exposure. The policy signals a broader understanding that youth empowerment extends beyond employment into health, wellness, and global competitiveness.

Economic Partnerships and the Road Ahead

The Finance Minister also noted that India's expanding economic partnerships are opening new avenues for young Indians across sectors. She linked India's overall growth story directly to the aspirations of its youth, arguing that true national leadership requires preparing the next generation to shape the country's future. As the Viksit Bharat deadline of 2047 approaches, the government's stated intent is to ensure that today's youth are both the architects and the beneficiaries of that transformation.