The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has extended the submission deadline for essays under the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2027, a national youth engagement initiative. Eligible participants now have until 22 October 2026 to submit their essays on the MY Bharat portal.
The extension provides additional time for youth who have advanced to the second stage of the selection process but have not yet completed their essay submissions. The ministry has asked state governments and union territory administrations to inform eligible candidates about the revised deadline.
Key facts
- New essay submission deadline: 22 October 2026
- Total quiz attempts recorded: 1,45,26,013
- Youth who qualified for essay stage: approximately 5.7 lakh
- Essay length required: 500 words
- Submission platform: MY Bharat portal
- Dialogue year: 2027
About the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue
The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is a flagship programme designed to engage young citizens in national development. The initiative aims to foster youth participation, encourage leadership qualities, and promote innovative thinking. Through this platform, young people are given the opportunity to contribute their ideas and perspectives to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the Government of India’s long-term development agenda.
Selection process and stages
The VBYLD 2027 employs a multi-stage selection mechanism. In the first stage, participants compete in a Viksit Bharat Quiz, which records their responses and assesses their knowledge and understanding. Over 1.45 crore quiz attempts were recorded, demonstrating widespread participation across the country.
Those who perform well in the quiz advance to the second stage, known as the Viksit Bharat Essay Challenge. Approximately 5.7 lakh youth qualified for this round. In this stage, participants must write a 500-word essay on a theme specified for their region and submit it through the MY Bharat portal, a digital platform developed by the government for citizen engagement.
Essay submission requirements
Participants in the essay challenge must write on their assigned regional theme. Essays must be exactly 500 words in length and submitted via the MY Bharat portal. The regional themes allow the dialogue to address locally relevant issues while contributing to national objectives. Youth are expected to present thoughtful, original perspectives on their assigned topics.
What this means for you
If you qualified in the Viksit Bharat Quiz but have not yet submitted your essay, the extended deadline gives you additional time to complete and refine your work. Check the MY Bharat portal to confirm your regional theme and ensure your essay meets the 500-word requirement before submission.
Students and young professionals interested in contributing to national development discourse should take advantage of this platform. The dialogue provides recognition for youth voices and offers a structured opportunity to engage with policy and governance at the national level.
For those in states and union territories, watch for official communications from your state government or administration regarding the revised deadline and submission procedures. District authorities may provide additional guidance or support for essay submission.
Communicating the extension
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has requested state governments and union territory administrations to ensure that the revised deadline reaches all eligible participants. This includes direct communication with district authorities and other relevant stakeholders who can help disseminate the information among youth in their jurisdictions. Wide publicity of the extension is intended to maximize participation and ensure that interested candidates do not miss the opportunity due to lack of awareness.