Rourkela, 19 March 2026: The Ministry of Education, GoI has opened online registrations for Yuva Sangam – Phase VI, a flagship youth exchange programme under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative, aimed at strengthening emotional bonds and mutual understanding among young citizens across States and Union Territories. The National Institute of Technology Rourkela has been designated as the nodal institution from Odisha for this phase and will coordinate the programme in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, which is serving as the nodal institution for Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu.
Yuva Sangam, organised by the Department of Higher Education, Government of India, facilitates structured educational and cultural exchange visits for youth, enabling participants to experience the diversity of the country through immersive exposure. The programme is open to youth in the 18–30 age group, including students of higher educational institutions, NSS and NYKS volunteers, and young professionals. Applicants from Odisha are required to have an interest in cultural exchange and national integration, along with the ability to participate in group-based activities and travel. Registrations are being conducted through the official portal of the programme (ebsb.aicte-india.org). The last date for registration for Yuva Sangam Phase VI is March 25, 2026.
Prof. Winny Routray, presently serving as Assistant Professor at NIT Rourkela, is the Nodal Officer from Odisha for Yuva Sangam Phase VI. Detailing on the initiative, she said, "In Phase VI of Yuva Sangam, Odisha has been paired with the State of Gujarat and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Selected participants will undertake five to seven-day visits, during which they will engage with local communities, academic institutions, and development initiatives in the partner regions. I encourage eligible candidates from Odisha to make use of this initiative to broaden their perspectives, develop meaningful connections, and represent the spirit and cultural richness of Odisha on a national stage."
Notably, in 2023, NIT Rourkela was part of the pilot phase of Yuva Sangam, facilitating an exchange between Odisha and Sikkim, which highlighted the programme’s role in promoting experiential learning and cultural understanding among youth.
Structured around five thematic pillars, i) Paryatan (Tourism), ii) Parampara (Traditions and Culture), iii) Pragati (Development and Governance), iv) Paraspar Sampark (People-to-People Connect), and v) Prodyogiki (Technology and Innovation), the initiative provides participants with first-hand exposure to cultural heritage, governance practices, technological ecosystems, and grassroots-level engagement, in alignment with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
