Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on Friday described the youth as the main drivers of India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat while interacting with 78 young participants from Uttar Pradesh taking part in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026. The interaction took place at Delhi Cantt on January 10, 2026. The Uttar Pradesh contingent is among the youth participating in the national-level dialogue being organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in New Delhi from January 10 to 12.
Commending the achievements of the young leaders in diverse fields, the Defence Minister expressed confidence that their energy, aspirations and innovative abilities would guide the nation towards achieving the goal of a developed India. He called upon the youth to embrace multidisciplinary learning to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology and space research. Emphasising lifelong learning, he said that one must continuously learn from new practices, personal experiences and the experiences of others, while dreaming big without letting ambitions become a burden.
Highlighting the importance of resilience, Rajnath Singh said that challenges are a natural part of life and testing times reveal a person’s true character. He noted that criticism and failure test an individual’s mettle and shape future direction. He urged the youth to face difficulties with courage, wisdom and self-confidence, stressing that not fearing challenges does not mean taking them lightly.
The Raksha Mantri encouraged young leaders to view challenges as opportunities rather than burdens, stating that difficult paths build strength, resilience and capability. He underlined that self-confidence stems from hard work and integrity, not ego, and advised the youth to remain humble, acknowledging the role of family, teachers and friends in their achievements.
The interaction was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) Sukriti Likhi, along with other senior officials.
