New Delhi: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched ‘Friends of MY Bharat’, a new digital module aimed at connecting Indian-origin youth living across the world with India’s youth-led development initiatives.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Raksha Khadse announced the initiative during the BRICS Youth Summit 2026 in Gandhinagar, positioning it as a new channel for global Indian youth to participate in nation-building activities while staying connected with India.
A Digital Bridge for Indian-Origin Youth
The initiative will allow Indian-origin students, young professionals and other youth living outside India to access information about volunteering opportunities, youth-led programmes and nation-building activities available through the MY Bharat platform.
The module aims to bring their ideas, skills, experiences and aspirations into India’s development journey, irrespective of where they live.
What ‘Friends of MY Bharat’ will offer
- Registration as a ‘Friend of MY Bharat’
- Information on volunteering and youth-led programmes
- Opportunities to participate in social initiatives in India
- A platform to share details of overseas Youth Clubs and Associations
- Information on major MY Bharat programmes and national initiatives
- A dedicated ‘Know Your India’ section
Global Youth to Get Volunteering Opportunities
Through the new module, Indian-origin youth abroad will be able to explore volunteering opportunities in areas including:
- Education
- Environment
- Health awareness
- Disaster relief
- Cultural preservation
The initiative seeks to make it easier for young people living outside India to identify and participate in social initiatives being undertaken across the country.
‘Know Your India’ to Deepen Cultural Connect
A dedicated ‘Know Your India’ section will provide curated information on India’s culture, heritage, history, tourism and travel, along with content on prominent national leaders.
The section is intended to help young Indians living abroad strengthen their connection with the country and gain greater awareness of India’s history and cultural heritage.
Youth Clubs and Associations to Join the Network
The module will also allow global Indian youth to share information about their Youth Clubs or Associations, including their activities and areas of engagement.
This could help create a wider network of Indian-origin youth organisations and facilitate greater participation in MY Bharat programmes.
BRICS Youth Summit 2026 Platform
The initiative was announced during the BRICS Youth Summit 2026 in Gandhinagar.
The event was attended by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Member of Parliament Hemang Joshi, Additional Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs Nitesh Kumar Mishra, and youth leaders from BRICS and partner countries.
The launch at the youth summit underlines the initiative’s focus on creating wider international youth engagement around India’s development priorities.
Building a Global Youth Engagement Ecosystem
‘Friends of MY Bharat’ is intended to create a sustained mechanism through which Indian-origin youth can remain connected with India and contribute to its development from wherever they are located.
The initiative seeks to harness the energy, ideas, skills and aspirations of global Indian youth towards the broader vision of Viksit Bharat.
About MY Bharat
Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, 2023 as a national youth platform built around Seva, Kartavya and Jan Bhagidari.
The platform connects young people with experiential learning, volunteering, skills development, leadership opportunities, mentorship and national campaigns, with the broader objective of enabling youth to learn, lead and contribute towards Viksit Bharat @2047.
