GANDHINAGAR, India — The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched Friends of MY Bharat, a new digital initiative designed to connect Indian-origin youth living around the world with India’s development programmes, volunteering opportunities and youth-led nation-building activities. Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse announced the initiative during the BRICS Youth Summit 2026 in Gandhinagar.
- The digital module enables Indian-origin youth abroad to register as Friends of MY Bharat.
- Participants can access information on volunteering and youth programmes across India.
- A dedicated Know Your India section will highlight India’s culture, heritage, history and tourism.
- The initiative aims to build a sustained global youth engagement ecosystem around India’s development journey.
Friends of MY Bharat Opens New Channel for Global Indian Youth
Developed through MY Bharat, the initiative is intended to provide Indian-origin students, young professionals and other young people living outside India with a direct way to discover opportunities connected with India’s youth programmes.
Those joining the initiative can register as a Friend of MY Bharat and provide information about their youth clubs or associations, including their activities and areas of engagement. This is intended to help create connections between youth organisations outside India and programmes operating through the MY Bharat platform.
Volunteering Opportunities Across Key Social Sectors
The digital module will provide information about volunteering opportunities in areas including education, environmental protection, health awareness, disaster relief and cultural preservation. Through these opportunities, Indian-origin youth living abroad can participate in social initiatives being undertaken across India.
The initiative is designed to channel the skills, experiences, ideas and aspirations of global Indian youth towards India’s development journey and the vision of Viksit Bharat, while allowing participation from outside the country.
Know Your India Section to Highlight Culture and Heritage
A dedicated Know Your India section will offer curated information covering India’s culture, heritage, history, tourism and travel. It will also feature information about prominent leaders and major MY Bharat programmes of national significance.
The government said the initiative will help Indian-origin youth strengthen their connection with India while creating avenues for them to contribute to development-oriented activities regardless of where they live.
MY Bharat Builds on India’s Youth Engagement Platform
Friends of MY Bharat is being positioned as part of a broader effort to create a sustained global youth engagement ecosystem. The initiative brings together Indian-origin young people’s energy, knowledge, skills and aspirations and connects them with opportunities related to India’s development.
The launch took place in the presence of Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Lok Sabha MP Hemang Joshi, Additional Secretary in the Department of Youth Affairs Nitesh Kumar Mishra, and youth leaders from BRICS and partner countries.
MY Bharat, or Mera Yuva Bharat, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, 2023. The national youth platform focuses on Seva, Kartavya and Jan Bhagidari and connects young people with experiential learning, volunteering, skills development, leadership, mentorship and national campaigns.
The platform’s broader objective is to empower young people to learn, lead and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. The new global module extends that youth engagement approach to Indian-origin communities living outside India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can register as a Friend of MY Bharat?
Indian-origin students, young professionals and other youth residing outside India can register as a Friend of MY Bharat through the new digital module.
What kind of opportunities will Friends of MY Bharat provide?
The initiative will provide information about volunteering, youth programmes and nation-building activities, including opportunities connected with education, environmental protection, health awareness, disaster relief and cultural preservation.
Global Youth Engagement Takes a New Digital Shape
The launch of Friends of MY Bharat creates a dedicated digital channel for engaging Indian-origin youth beyond India’s borders. By combining volunteering opportunities, youth programmes and curated information about India, the initiative seeks to turn global interest and expertise into wider participation in the country’s development journey.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
