Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday, 13 June 2026, credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government with creating transformative opportunities for India's youth over the past 12 years, citing flagship schemes as having reshaped the aspirations of an entire generation.

Posting under the hashtag #12YearsOfYuvaShakti, Shekhawat wrote that under Modi's leadership, 'desh ki yuva shakti ko shaanadaar avsar mile hain' — 'the country's youth power has received outstanding opportunities.' He highlighted Skill India, Startup India, Rozgar Melas, and Khelo India as the four pillars that have, in his words, given 'new flight to the dreams of the youth.'

Context

The post arrives as the BJP-led central government marks what it describes as 12 years of governance since May 2014, a milestone being amplified across the party's social media ecosystem. Shekhawat, a senior Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, framed the occasion as a moment to take stock of youth-centric policy delivery. His central claim — that India's young people are becoming job-creators rather than job-seekers — reflects the government's consistent demographic-dividend narrative.

Policy Backdrop

The four schemes Shekhawat cited each carry a distinct policy lineage. The Skill India Mission was launched in July 2015 as a flagship programme targeting the skilling of hundreds of millions of young people for employment and self-employment. Startup India was announced on 16 January 2016, building an entrepreneurship ecosystem through tax benefits, easier regulatory compliance, and funding support for new ventures.

Khelo India was introduced in January 2017 to revive grassroots sports culture and support talented athletes, while the Rozgar Mela series — government-organised job fairs — began in 2022 to facilitate direct recruitment into central ministries and public sector units. Together, these initiatives represent the government's multi-pronged approach to converting India's large youth population into an economic asset.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of these programmes are young Indians seeking skills, employment, and entrepreneurial pathways. Aspiring entrepreneurs have accessed Startup India's compliance relief and funding networks, while athletes from smaller towns have used Khelo India infrastructure to compete at national levels. Rozgar Melas have been held across multiple states, directly connecting candidates with central government vacancies.

The broader framing aligns with the government's long-term Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, which positions youth empowerment as the foundation of a developed India. Shekhawat's post reinforces this by calling the youth 'viksit Bharat nirman ki sabse badi taakat' — 'the greatest strength in building a developed India.'

What's Next

The #12YearsOfYuvaShakti campaign is likely to intensify across BJP platforms in the coming days, with other ministers and leaders expected to amplify similar messaging. Analysts will watch for concrete data releases — such as forthcoming Economic Survey figures or NITI Aayog reports — that could substantiate or complicate the job-creator narrative. New phases of Skill India or Khelo India are also possible announcements around upcoming national youth or sports events, which could give the campaign fresh policy substance.