Sri Vijaya Puram, July 30: MY Bharat, Sri Vijaya Puram, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, successfully organised the Young Professionals Roundtable 2026 on 30 July 2026 at Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE), Sri Vijaya Puram. The programme was organised under the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026 initiative to foster meaningful dialogue among young professionals, students, academicians, entrepreneurs and experts on the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, with a special focus on Women-Led Development.
The programme commenced with a Welcome Address by the Moderator, Mr. Harish Kumar, Youth Icon, who warmly welcomed the dignitaries, panelists and participants. This was followed by the Lighting of the Ceremonial Lamp and the rendition of Vande Mataram, setting a patriotic and inspiring tone for the event.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Mr. Sukha Ranjan Biswas, Joint Director, MY Bharat, highlighted the Government of India’s vision of empowering youth as active partners in nation-building. He emphasised that the Young Professionals Roundtable serves as a unique platform to inspire innovation, leadership and constructive dialogue among young people. A short film on the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) was screened, followed by a presentation highlighting the key inputs and vision shared by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The event was graced by Mrs. Priyanka Kumari, DANICS, Additional District Magistrate, South Andaman, as the Chief Guest. In her inspiring address, she encouraged young professionals to become responsible leaders and active contributors to nation-building through innovation, social responsibility and public participation. She appreciated the efforts of MY Bharat in creating an inclusive platform where young minds could exchange ideas and contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Mrs. Manjulatha Rao, Principal, Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE), attended the programme as the Guest of Honour. In her address, she motivated students to develop leadership qualities, critical thinking and innovation while contributing positively to society. She appreciated MY Bharat for organising such a meaningful platform for youth engagement.
Swami Suddhanand Saraswati, Secretary, Chinmaya Mission, attended the programme as the Special Guest. Addressing the gathering, he highlighted the importance of value-based education, self-discipline and character building. He urged young people to combine professional excellence with moral values, integrity and compassion to emerge as responsible citizens and future leaders of the nation.
Dr. P. V. N. Sarma, Principal, Andaman Law College, attended the programme as the Distinguished Guest and appreciated MY Bharat for providing an excellent platform that promotes democratic dialogue, responsible leadership and youth participation in nation-building. The highlight of the programme was an insightful Panel Discussion featuring four eminent women achievers from diverse professional backgrounds.
Dr. Poonam Arora, a distinguished Dental Surgeon, entrepreneur and social development leader, shared her experiences in healthcare, women empowerment, child welfare and community service, inspiring the youth to work towards inclusive development through compassionate leadership.
Dr. Ankita Banerjee, physician, healthcare entrepreneur and social contributor, highlighted the significance of preventive healthcare, women’s health and sustainable development while encouraging young professionals to pursue excellence with social responsibility.
Samhita Veda Acharyaa, entrepreneur, author, filmmaker, heritage consultant, educator and certified Happiness & Meditation Coach, spoke about preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands while encouraging youth to embrace innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship rooted in Indian values.
Ms. Rashmi Rao, educationist, researcher, corporate strategist, media leader and Editor-in-Chief of The Wave Andaman, deliberated on leadership, entrepreneurship, communication and the importance of informed public discourse in shaping the future of the Islands.
Following the panel discussion, Mr. Harish Kumar, Youth Icon, conducted an engaging podcast-style interactive session with all the panelists, enabling them to share their personal journeys, professional experiences and perspectives on women-led development, entrepreneurship, healthcare, media, heritage and sustainable development. The Chief Guest, Mrs. Priyanka Kumari, also participated in the podcast and shared her valuable insights on youth empowerment, public leadership and the collective role of young citizens in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The podcast session was highly appreciated by the audience and emerged as one of the major highlights of the programme. An Open Floor Discussion followed, during which participants actively interacted with the panelists by raising thought-provoking questions and sharing their ideas on youth leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, women-led development, sustainability and nation-building.
The event witnessed the enthusiastic participation of around 200 youth, including students, faculty members and young professionals from leading higher educational institutions of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, namely Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE), Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM), Andaman College (ANCOL), Andaman Law College and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT). Their active participation throughout the panel discussions, interactive sessions and podcast reflected the growing commitment of the youth towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The programme concluded with the presentation of Certificates and Prize Distribution to participants by the dignitaries. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Mr. Deepak Kumar, District Youth Officer, MY Bharat, Sri Vijaya Puram, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, Special Guest, Distinguished Guest, Joint Director, eminent panelists, Moderator Mr. Harish Kumar, faculty members, participating educational institutions, volunteers and all the participants for their valuable support in making the programme a grand success.
The successful organisation of the Young Professionals Roundtable 2026 reaffirmed MY Bharat’s commitment to nurturing youth leadership, promoting women-led development and creating meaningful platforms for dialogue between youth, policymakers, educators and professionals. The programme inspired participants to become active partners in nation-building and to contribute towards the realisation of the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, as envisioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
