Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 26: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the Centre has been consistently working to empower India's youth by creating employment opportunities, strengthening skill development initiatives and involving young people in policymaking, in line with its vision of building a 'Viksit Bharat'.
Speaking at the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards 2026, the Finance Minister said the government's youth-focused initiatives have produced tangible results, citing the distribution of more than 12 lakh appointment letters through the Centre's Rozgar Melas.
She said the government's objective is to equip young Indians with the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to the country's development.
Sitharaman highlighted the importance of engaging youth in governance, revealing that one of her first engagements after presenting the Union Budget 2026 was an informal interaction with college students from different parts of the country representing a wide range of academic disciplines.
She said the government actively encourages young citizens to participate in policymaking, noting that budget suggestions received through the MyGovIndia portal often include valuable inputs from students and young professionals, some of which are incorporated into the final Budget.
The Finance Minister also highlighted the Prime Minister's Internship Scheme, saying it provides young Indians with their first exposure to the corporate world through internship opportunities in the country's top 500 companies, helping them gain practical industry experience.
Referring to the National Sports Policy 2025, Sitharaman said the initiative seeks to strengthen India's sporting ecosystem by providing athletes with world-class infrastructure, sports science support, advanced medical facilities, technology-driven performance analysis, quality coaching and early international exposure.
She stressed that India's economic growth is closely linked to the ambitions and achievements of its young population, adding that true leadership involves preparing the next generation to drive the nation's future.
The Finance Minister further said that India's expanding economic partnerships with countries around the world are opening up new employment and business opportunities for young Indians across a range of sectors, reinforcing the government's commitment to building a skilled and globally competitive workforce.