Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday, 27 August declared that India had, for the first time, begun treating sports as a national priority rather than a peripheral activity — a shift he attributed directly to the policy direction set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mandaviya made the remarks at the Khelo India Dialogue in New Delhi, addressing the Prime Minister in the presence of youth leaders and policymakers.

Key Remarks at the Khelo India Dialogue

Speaking directly to the Prime Minister, Mandaviya said: 'For the first time, the country has seen sports as a national priority, not just an activity.' He framed this as part of a broader shift in the government's approach to youth — one that seeks to integrate sports, skills, and nation-building into a single developmental vision.

Mandaviya credited Modi's emphasis on youth as the foundation of this transformation. 'Prime Minister, you have considered youth to be the future of India,' he said, underlining that the government had moved beyond rhetoric to create structural platforms for young Indians.

My Bharat Platform and Youth Mobilisation

The Sports Minister highlighted the My Bharat platform, launched in 2023, as a flagship instrument of this youth-first approach. According to Mandaviya, the platform has enrolled more than 2.66 crore youth across the country, offering them direction, mentorship, and pathways to contribute to national development alongside their own careers.

'Our youth had the desire for energy, ideas, passion and service. But they also needed the right direction, mentorship, and opportunity. Today, My India is fulfilling these needs as a one-stop solution,' he said. The scale of enrolment — over 2.66 crore in roughly two years — reflects the platform's rapid uptake, though independent assessments of its on-ground impact remain limited.

Youth Ideas Feeding into Policy and Budget

Mandaviya also spotlighted the Developed India Young Leader Dialogue, describing it as a direct bridge between youth ideas and the policymaking process. He noted that on 12 January — Swami Vivekananda's birthday — the Prime Minister had personally engaged with young participants, listening to their ideas and interacting with them.

Notably, Mandaviya claimed that ideas gathered through the Dialogue had directly influenced the current year's Union Budget, which he described as a 'youth-driven budget.' 'Today, the country's youth feel that their ideas are not ignored but implemented,' he said. This represents a significant institutional claim — that citizen input at youth forums has translated into budgetary priorities — though the specific policy linkages were not detailed at the event.

Skills Development and New Opportunities

Rounding out his address, Mandaviya pointed to the Prime Minister's Skills Development Programme as evidence of the government's commitment to creating tangible opportunities for young Indians seeking to build careers. He framed this alongside sports and youth engagement as three pillars of a cohesive national youth policy.

As the government prepares to scale the Khelo India initiative further, the Dialogue signals an intent to position youth development — spanning sports, skills, and civic participation — as a core electoral and governance priority ahead of coming state cycles.