Two Young Leaders from West Bengal Among Contributors Whose Ideas Found Place in Budget

PIB, KOLKATA, FEB 3, 2026: In her Union Budget 2026 speech, the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, stated that several ideas shared during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026 had inspired key proposals in this year's Budget. She emphasized that this reflects the Union Government’s commitment to participatory governance, youth-led development, and inclusive policy-making.

The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, brought together young leaders from across the country who presented innovative and forward-looking ideas before the Prime Minister and senior members of the Union Cabinet.

Among the young leaders selected at the national level, two participants from West Bengal—Shri Ritam Bhattacharya, a MY Bharat Volunteer, and Shri Dipayan Sundar Ghosh, a MY Bharat-NSS Volunteer—made notable contributions at VBYLD 2026.

Shri Ritam Bhattacharya, aged 19, is currently pursuing a B.A. LL.B. (Honours) at Xavier Law School, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata. He was selected as one of the top 24 national presenters out of nearly 3,000 participants, as he presented his policy roadmap on “Building a Future-Ready Workforce” directly to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. His ideas focused on skills-driven education, the creative economy, sports as a career pathway, mental health prioritisation, and a national skill identity framework.

Shri Dipayan Sundar Ghosh was the only NSS volunteer from West Bengal selected for the Elite Final Cohort of VBYLD 2026. Chosen as one of 25 national delegates, he presented his ideas before the Prime Minister, building on his earlier participation in VBYLD 2025. His presentation focused on "Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Make in India, Make for the World," highlighting the transformation of SEZs into circular industrial ecosystems, revival of legacy clusters, development of Tier-II and Tier-III cities, creation of university townships, promotion of Khadi, handloom, and One District One Product (ODOP)-linked industries, and youth-led MSME and export enablement through Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

The inclusion of ideas from VBYLD 2026 in the Union Budget marks a significant milestone in institutionalising youth participation in national policymaking. It demonstrates the Government’s resolve to harness the creativity, innovation, and aspirations of India’s young population in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat.