T. Harish Kumar, an advocate from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, represented the islands at the Vikshit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, held from January 9 to 12 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the national-level programme brought together selected youth representatives from across the country to deliberate on policy, governance, and development priorities aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Harish Kumar attended the event as a Path Breaker – Special Attendee for the second consecutive time, marking continued national-level representation from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. His participation placed the islands among voices contributing to discussions on youth engagement in democracy and governance.
During the dialogue, he actively engaged in deliberations focused on “Youth in Democracy and Government,” presenting perspectives rooted in constitutional values and grassroots realities. The sessions were aimed at generating policy-oriented ideas, with youth participants contributing recommendations across key national themes.
In recognition of his participation and leadership role, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports entrusted him with the responsibility of welcoming keynote speakers at the event. Among those he formally received were ISRO astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Nair, highlighting the visibility accorded to youth representatives from the islands at the national forum.
The programme also provided an opportunity for direct interaction between selected youth participants and the Prime Minister of India. Harish Kumar was among those who sat alongside the Prime Minister during presentations on flagship national initiatives, including Youth in Democracy and Government, Startup India, Make in India, Fit India, and Hit India. These sessions featured collective presentations by youth delegates from various States and Union Territories, outlining ideas and policy suggestions contributing to India’s long-term development roadmap.
Beyond participation, Harish Kumar also played an institutional role in the programme. He served as one of the Jury Members for the State-Level Championship Selection under the Vikshit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026. In this capacity, he contributed to the evaluation and selection process aimed at identifying and mentoring emerging youth leaders from different regions.
The Vikshit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is designed to strengthen youth participation in nation-building by creating platforms for policy dialogue, leadership development, and inter-regional exchange. Harish Kumar’s repeated representation at the event underscores the growing presence of youth voices from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in national policy conversations, particularly on governance, democratic participation, and development planning toward 2047.
