Mumbai, 17 February 2024

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, virtually inaugurated the 4th edition of the IMC-YLF Youth Conclave today. Addressing the audience during the inaugural session, the Minister underlined that the nation is on the brink of its 100th year of independence. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Government has  introduced 'Vision Viksit Bharat@2047,' envisioning India as a superpower, with the youth playing a pivotal role. Minister Thakur motivated the youth, stating, "You are the future drivers of the country's economy; be proactive, act on opportunities, and embrace new technologies to contribute to the nation's development."

Highlighting the role of youth in 'Vision Viksit Bharat@2047,' the Minister emphasized India's unparalleled potential, with a workforce of 547 million individuals, constituting 41% of the 1.4 billion populations, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023. Out of 1.4 billion Indians, about a billion are under the age of 35 today. By 2047, an estimated 21% of the global workforce will call India home. Shri Thakur emphasized that the youth are not only architects of the future but also custodians of the nation's aspirations, policies, and destiny.

Discussing 'Vision Viksit Bharat 2024,' the minister noted India's position as the second-largest country on the internet, with three Indians joining every minute, two of them from villages. Anticipating that 20% of the world's middle class will reside in India by 2024, Shri Thakur called upon young entrepreneurs to innovate and positively disrupt sectors like housing, education, infrastructure, water, food, health, and entertainment.

The Minister  highlighted that the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade recognizes 17 thousand startups, generating 1.3 million jobs in the last decade. Of these, 55,816 have at least one woman director, showcasing the government's commitment to startups and women empowerment. He also mentioned the 'My Yuva Bharat' platform, launched by PM Modi on October 31, 2023, empowering Indian youth for the nation's centenary of independence in 2024.

Shri Anurag Singh Thakur further reaffirmed the Government's dedication to positioning India as the content hub of the world. He emphasized India's superior human resource, technical capabilities, and incentives for pre and post-production. With a 28% annual growth rate in the OTT platform, Indian youth have the potential to showcase the nation's civilizational strength. The Minister  highlighted The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 aiming to protect intellectual property and prevent an annual loss of 20 thousand crores in the Indian Film Industry.

The program commenced with a welcome address by Samir Somaiya, President of IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasizing the crucial roles of youth and industry in the nation's development. The Guest of Honour, Burjis Godrej, Head of Special Projects at Godrej Agrovet Limited, highlighted that 'Vision Viksit Bharat 2024' encompasses economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, and good governance. He encouraged youth to contribute ideas to this vision. 

A vote of thanks was proposed by Sanjay Mariwala, Vice President of IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Virtually attended by students from various universities and colleges across the country, the conclave served as a platform for motivating youth for the nation’s  development.

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PIB Mumbai | S.Khekde/ D.Rane

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