On the occasion of National Sports Day, celebrated annually in honour of the legendary hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, the 'Khelo India Samvaad' (Khel Ki Baat PM ke Saath) programme is being organised nationwide under the aegis of 'Mera Yuva Bharat' (MY Bharat), Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. In this regard, a press conference was convened at the MY Bharat state office, Raipur on Monday to outline the framework and objectives of this national initiative. This year, the nationwide celebrations will be held on 27th August 2026 under the core theme of 'Youth Participation, Sports Development, and Nation Building', aiming to unite the nation’s youth, sports icons, and future leaders on a common national platform. 

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will deliver a virtual address during the event, connecting simultaneously with over 8 lakh young participants and athletes. To ensure a unified national platform, the program will be hosted in two prominent colleges in every district across the country. The initiative aims to deeply engage the youth, foster sports talent, and reinforce the role of the younger generation in shaping the nation's future.

The focal point of the event will shift to localized youth interaction through 'Youth Connect'. Young participants will have the unique opportunity to interact directly with local sports personalities, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and community leaders. These discussions will highlight the significant strides made over the past 12 years in expanding India’s sports ecosystem and upgrading grassroots sports infrastructure.

The event will also feature a dedicated 15-minute 'Youth Dialogue' session enabling youth to voice their ideas, aspirations, and policy suggestions. Key focus areas for this dialogue include expanding grassroots sports facilities, adopting scientific talent identification for the 2036 Olympics, enhancing youth leadership, and equipping the youth with future-ready skills and volunteering opportunities for a Viksit Bharat. To facilitate direct policy input, QR codes will be available at all venues allowing youth to submit digital ideas on the MY Bharat portal's Idea Box, alongside participating in the 'Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue' (VBYLD) quiz.
 

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