Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is advancing across every field, with sports emerging as a powerful instrument of nation-building Young people must move forward with hard work and determination; the government will leave no stone unturned in providing opportunities and facilities — Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma From an examination calendar to massive recruitment drives, the Rajasthan Government has fulfilled the aspirations of the state’s youth Jaipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the MY Bharat Khelo India Samvaad programme organised on the occasion of National Sports Day. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma joined the programme virtually from Subodh PG College, Jaipur, and listened to the Prime Minister’s address. Speaking on the occasion, Sharma described the youth as India’s greatest asset, saying that the vision of a developed India can be realised only through the patience, confidence and relentless efforts of its young citizens. He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, a positive sporting environment has been created across the country, providing talented youngsters from villages and small towns opportunities to compete on national and international platforms. Paying tribute to legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, he said National Sports Day is an occasion to remember his extraordinary contribution and dedication to Indian sports. Khelo India Scheme Set to Give Sports a New Direction The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister firmly believes that winning medals requires the creation of a strong sporting culture across the country. The transformation of India’s sporting ecosystem is a result of visionary leadership, he said, adding that sports are increasingly becoming a powerful instrument of nation-building. He said the revised Khelo India Scheme, with an expenditure provision of ₹36,000 crore, would provide fresh momentum and direction to the country’s sporting sector. Sharma said India’s sporting landscape has undergone a significant transformation since 2014, with greater emphasis being placed on nurturing young talent. Referring to Swami Vivekananda’s vision that the 21st century would belong to India, he said the vision is steadily becoming a reality under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. India, he added, has become the world’s fourth-largest economy and is moving towards the third position. MY Bharat: Connecting Youth with Nation-Building Highlighting India’s demographic strength, Sharma said nearly 65 per cent of the country’s population is below the age of 35. The MY Bharat digital platform, launched under the Prime Minister’s inspiration, is creating opportunities for young people in skill development, leadership and civic participation, enabling them to become active contributors to nation-building. “MY Bharat is not merely a portal; it is a powerful platform connecting the capabilities of the ‘Amrit Peedhi’ with the vision of a developed India,” he said. He added that the Rajasthan Government has also launched the ‘Suyog’ platform to connect young people with sports, skill development, employment and community participation. The objective is to bring youth from every village and ward into the mainstream of development. Rajasthan Strengthening Its Sporting Infrastructure The Chief Minister said the double-engine government is working continuously to take sports in Rajasthan to new heights. Athletes are being prepared for world-class competitions through better training, modern facilities, financial security and recognition. He said 50 Khelo India Centres have been established in the state. Centres of Excellence for athletics, archery and boxing are being developed at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, while the Maharana Pratap Sports University is being established in Jaipur at an estimated cost of around ₹101 crore. ₹52 Crore Incentive Support for 3,540 Athletes Sharma said 186 athletes who have brought recognition to Rajasthan at national and international levels have been appointed to government services. The state government has so far provided around ₹52 crore in incentives and financial assistance to 3,540 athletes, he said. Rajasthan also successfully hosted the Khelo India University Games-2025 for the first time. Organised across seven cities, the event witnessed participation from nearly 7,000 athletes representing 222 universities. At the Khelo India Youth Games-2025, Rajasthan’s athletes won a total of 60 medals, securing third position in the country. The Chief Minister also congratulated Rajasthan’s Arundhati Choudhary for winning a gold medal and Yashveer Singh for securing a bronze medal at the recently held Commonwealth Games, saying their outstanding performances had enhanced the pride of the state. One Sport to Be Promoted in Every District Sharma said the Rajasthan Youth Policy-2026 has opened new avenues for young people in education, skill development, sports and leadership. Under the One District, One Sport initiative, one sport is being promoted in each district. To nurture athletes with the ambition of winning Olympic medals, the state has also launched the Rajasthan Target Olympic Podium Scheme. He said the monthly mess allowance for athletes in departmental academies has been increased from ₹2,600 to ₹4,000. Government Focused on Jobs and Opportunities for Youth The Chief Minister said the state government has kept the aspirations of young people at the centre of every budget and has taken concrete steps to fulfil their expectations. An examination calendar has been issued for recruitment examinations, he said, adding that 410 examinations have so far been conducted without any paper leaks, while more than 1.89 lakh appointments have been made. Recruitment processes for more than 1.22 lakh posts are currently underway, while preparations are in progress for recruitment to more than 70,000 additional posts. He further said that the private sector has provided employment to more than 4.5 lakh young people in the state. Calling upon the youth to pursue their ambitions with dedication and hard work, Sharma said the government would continue to provide every possible opportunity and facility to help them advance in sports, employment, skill development and other fields. Young Athletes Share Their Experiences Earlier, the Chief Minister interacted with Laxita, bronze medallist at the 6th Asian Under-18 Athletics Championship; Manav Sharma, silver medallist at the All India University Games; Aviral Tiwari, gold medallist at the State Under-23 Championships; and Bhoomika Pareek, participant in the HCL 81st National Squash Championship. He listened to their experiences and suggestions and encouraged them to continue pursuing excellence. MPs Rao Rajendra Singh and Manju Sharma, representatives from the sporting fraternity, dignitaries and a large number of young people were also present at the programme.