Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Thursday, 27 August called the youth India's greatest national asset, asserting that their confidence, perseverance, and hard work were indispensable to realising the dream of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). Sharma made the remarks while participating in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'MY Bharat – Khelo India Samvad' programme via video conference from Subodh PG College in Jaipur, an event that coincided with National Sports Day.

Tribute to Major Dhyan Chand and the Sporting Vision

Paying homage to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on National Sports Day, Sharma said the occasion offered an opportunity to remember his extraordinary contribution to Indian sport. He noted that Prime Minister Modi believed India could win more medals only by cultivating a robust sporting culture at the grassroots level across the country.

Sharma described sports as an increasingly powerful instrument of nation-building. He highlighted the revised Khelo India scheme, backed by a Central Government outlay of ₹36,000 crore, as a catalyst for fresh momentum in the sector. He observed that India's sports ecosystem had undergone significant transformation since 2014.

Youth Demographics and the MY Bharat Platform

Citing Swami Vivekananda's vision that the 21st century would belong to India, Sharma said the country was on track to become the world's third-largest economy. He pointed out that approximately 65 per cent of India's population was under the age of 35, making youth participation central to national development.

Sharma described the MY Bharat digital platform — launched with the inspiration of Prime Minister Modi — as more than a portal. He said it connected the potential of the 'Amrit Peedhi' with the vision of a Viksit Bharat, offering young people opportunities in skill development, leadership, and civic participation.

Rajasthan's Sports and Youth Initiatives

On the state front, Sharma outlined a range of measures. Rajasthan has established 50 Khelo India centres, and Centres of Excellence for athletics, archery, and boxing are being developed at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. A Maharana Pratap Sports University is being set up in Jaipur at an estimated cost of ₹101 crore.

The state government has appointed 186 athletes who brought recognition to Rajasthan at national and international levels into government services. Financial assistance and incentives totalling approximately ₹52 crore have been provided to 3,540 athletes so far.

Rajasthan hosted the Khelo India University Games-2025 for the first time, with around 7,000 athletes from 222 universities competing across seven cities. At the Khelo India Youth Games-2025, Rajasthan athletes claimed third position nationally after winning 60 medals. Sharma also congratulated Arundhati Choudhary and Yashveer Singh for winning gold and bronze medals respectively at the recently held Commonwealth Games.

The state has also launched the 'Suyog' platform to connect young people from every village and ward with sports, skill development, employment, and community engagement. Under the 'One District-One Sport' initiative, each district is promoting a specific sport. The Rajasthan Target Olympic Podium Scheme has been launched to support athletes aiming for Olympic medals.

Employment and Recruitment Push

Sharma said the Rajasthan Youth Policy-2026 had opened fresh avenues in education, skills, sports, and leadership. The monthly mess allowance for athletes in departmental academies has been raised from ₹2,600 to ₹4,000.

On the employment front, the state government has released a recruitment examination calendar and has conducted 410 examinations without paper leaks, according to Sharma. More than 1,89,000 appointments have been made, while recruitment for over 1,22,000 posts is currently underway.

With a ₹36,000 crore national scheme, a new sports university, and a recruitment drive at scale, Rajasthan's youth agenda will be tested on delivery timelines in the months ahead.