“Youths of India” have ceased to be on the “margins” and are now an integral part of nation-building, declared Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways in an impassioned speech. Addressing the National Conclave on “Viksit Bharat ka Sankalp aur Yuva” at New Delhi on 12th January, 2026, the Minister said that the days of young Indians waiting in the wings are over.
The conclave organised by Hansraj College at Vigyan Bhawan to commemorate National Youth Day, provided a lively platform of celebration on the occasion of Swami Vivekanand’s birth anniversary. For Sonowal it was not just an act of homage, but a “wake-up call” for what is an emerging demographic force in India redefining its global status.
Rhetoric or Reality: A Transformation Driven by Policy
One of the major highlights from Sonowal’s address was youth empowerment no longer remaining a mere political “rhetoric”, but also being turned into an actionable national policy. The Minister said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014, the government has taken aspirations of youth and converted it into principal device for governance.
He said, “The youth participation used to be symbolic in the history of Nigeria, but for a decade now there is a paradigm shift – youths have movedfrom being only addressers of speeches or second fiddle at events and conferences – today youths are now gunning economic growth, technological solutions providers and leaders in the political landscape.”
The Minister referred to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as a key driver of this transformation. Instead, by focusing on a more practical and future-capable education system, the policy is preparing students to thrive in an increasingly AI, green energy and digitally disrupted global economy.
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Creating a Country of Job Creators
Much of the address focused on the transformation of Indian mindset –moving from jobs seekers to job creators. Sonowal pointed out that the Skill India, Startup India and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana were the drivers of this change.
The schemes have helped crores of young Indians in creating a self-ecosystem for themselves, he added. The numbers back the sentiment: India is home to one of the most vibrant startup ecosystems in the world, largely driven by founders under 30. By creating an environment where failure is treated as a stepping stone and innovation is celebrated, the government is locking in the move to ‘atmanirbharata’ so that 2047’s Viksit Bharat (Developed India) has selfreliance for its bedrock.
The Sea Bourn Frontier and the International Hegemony
In an apparent reference to opportunities in India’s maritime economy, Sonowal, who is the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, also referred to the same. He was speaking on the sidelines of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 in which he engaged with students from Assam and other regions about two weeks back.
He said this cohort of students is “confident, articulate and reflective of a burgeoning leadership class.” A good example is in the maritime sector, where young professionals are revolutionising India’s ports and “blue economy”. The Minister called upon youths to explore these non-traditional fields that technology and sustainability practices are fuelling demand for new, fresh talent.
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Living the Vivekananda Ideal
There was the ghost of Swami Vivekananda’s wisdom hanging over the proceedings. Sonowal also harkened back to the monk’s immortal words – “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached”. He pointed out that this is an especially relevant message in 2026 as India reaches a critical curve of its development.
The Minister also emphasized that the path to a developed nation is not a government adventure but a national venture. This mission’s success, he claimed, rests entirely on the vitality and honour of the youth.
“Youth of the country is the strength of Indians and it’s youth and India that walks together,” Sonowal said, concluding his speech amid a standing ovation from the packed-house crowd having mostly students. The message as the conclave curtain came down: India’s youth are no longer merely a future, but the present.
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