PM Modi urges youth to connect with border villages, says they are the foundation of Viksit Bharat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday interacted with participants of the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme 2026, urging young people to strengthen their connection with India’s border villages and describing developed villages as the foundation of a Viksit Bharat.
Addressing participants representing around 250 districts across the country, the Prime Minister lauded the growing role of youth in nation-building through the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform.
Reflecting on the platform’s growth since its launch, PM Modi said, “Today, the young friends of MY Bharat are doing exceptionally commendable work across the entire country.” He praised the youth network for its contribution to initiatives ranging from the Viksit Bharat Dialogue to the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme.
Recalling the origin of the programme, the Prime Minister said it was conceived during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue to encourage young people to move beyond virtual engagement and understand India’s realities at the grassroots level. He noted that more than 400 youth were selected from nearly three lakh applicants to visit border villages in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh, where they experienced local traditions and witnessed the patriotism of border communities.
“Connecting your culture with the culture there is absolutely the finest example of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” PM Modi said.
Sharing his own long-standing association with border regions, the Prime Minister recalled his visits to these areas before assuming office and his tradition of celebrating Diwali with soldiers deployed on the frontlines. Referring to Kargil Vijay Diwas, he paid tribute to the armed forces and said the experiences shared by the youth reflected the courage of soldiers and the warmth of border communities.
“The bravehearts hoisted the flag of victory under the most challenging circumstances, and this entire experience of the Viksit Vibrant Village has been truly magnificent,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of rural development in achieving national progress, PM Modi said developed villages are the foundation of a developed India.
“When the youth of the country actively connects with the ground, they make the overarching vision of a Viksit Bharat even broader,” he said, adding that direct engagement with grassroots realities strengthens both the national vision and the resolve of young citizens.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the hardships faced by people living in border villages and praised their unwavering patriotism despite years of inadequate infrastructure and public services.
“We should be immensely proud that even under such severely deprived circumstances, the patriotism of the people in the border villages never weakened,” he said.
PM Modi said his government had transformed its approach by treating border settlements as the country’s “first villages” rather than its “last villages.” He highlighted improvements in road connectivity, electricity, drinking water, cooking gas, internet services and other infrastructure in these areas.
“It is strictly the result of changing this historical mindset that our frontier region is rapidly transforming today,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that improved infrastructure had also boosted tourism, employment and economic opportunities in border regions, with the Vibrant Village Programme accelerating holistic development.
“The Vibrant Village Program is actively giving incredible new momentum to this holistic development of the border villages,” he said.
Encouraging participants to become ambassadors of the initiative, PM Modi urged them to share their experiences with at least 100 other young people, promote border tourism, collaborate with local content creators and encourage educational visits to these regions.
“The more the youth of India deeply understand the border villages, the stronger our nation will ultimately become,” he said.
Issuing a call for wider public participation, the Prime Minister added, “I strongly urge that every young friend among you must definitely share your authentic experiences with at least a hundred other youths.”
Concluding the interaction, PM Modi expressed confidence that India’s youth would play a decisive role in shaping the country’s future.
“When our youth power directly connects with the challenges and solutions of the country, the future will absolutely and definitely be bright,” he said.
