New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 26, Sunday said that the transformation of villages, particularly those along India’s borders, is central to the country’s journey towards becoming a developed nation and urged the nation’s youth to connect with grassroots realities to help realise the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Interacting via video conferencing with participants of the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme 2026, the Prime Minister said that the youth play a vital role in nation-building by understanding local issues, culture and aspirations. “Developed villages are the cornerstone of a developed India. The journey toward building a developed India is ongoing and all the young people play a vital role in it. When the youth of the country connect with the grassroots, they broaden the vision of a developed India”, PM Modi reiterated.
Interacting with the participants of the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme. Great to see that the initiative is instilling a deeper sense of nation-building among the youth.#Youth4ViksitBharat #MYBharat https://t.co/2vCFle03vY
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2026
Emphasising the importance of border villages, PM Modi said that the experience would strengthen the resolve of young people to contribute to the nation after witnessing the resilience and patriotism of residents living in challenging conditions. “It strengthens the resolve within young minds to live for the nation and contribute to its progress. During this campaign, you must have realised how difficult life is in border villages; yet, despite every hardship, the residents live and breathe patriotism every moment”, PM Modi added.
“Until a few years ago, these border villages were labelled as merely the ‘last villages’ and left to fend for themselves. They lacked basic amenities like roads, electricity, water, schools and hospitals. The patriotism of the people in the border villages never wavered, not even in the slightest”, he reiterated.
The Viksit Vibrant Village Programme, implemented through MY Bharat, has been conceptualised to realise the Prime Minister’s vision of treating India’s border villages as the first villages of the nation and making them active partners in the journey towards Viksit Bharat. The Viksit Vibrant Village Programme 2026 was organised in two phases from June 4 to June 30, covering 74 vibrant villages across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Over 400 youth participants, representing every State and Union Territory, were selected through a nationwide online quiz competition that witnessed participation from more than three lakh youth, the statement added. As part of the programme, participants lived with local communities and undertook activities such as Swachhta drives, awareness campaigns on Government schemes, Yuva Sammelans, cultural exchange programmes, tree plantation drives, Mini Model Panchayat simulations, interactions with local artisans and visits to institutions of strategic importance.
The programme provided participants, first-hand exposure to the socio-economic landscape, cultural heritage and developmental aspirations of India’s frontier regions, while fostering community participation, national integration and a deeper understanding of the strategic importance of border villages, the PMO said.
PM Modi also emphasised that the border communities prioritise national security and unity above basic amenities, making these locations vital centres of national strength rather than remote outposts. “In our border villages, one witnesses a unique blend of the aspiration for development and a spirit of patriotism, at times, it seems as though the country matters more to the residents than their own selves. The nation comes first; amenities come later. This is a distinct impression one gathers from these border villages”, he said.
PM Modi noted that the ‘Viksit Vibrant Villages Programme’ allowed the participants to visit remote villages across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh to observe and gain first-hand experience about daily occupations of people, cultural traditions, food habits, way of life, security awareness & challenges faced by the people residing in the border areas.
PM Modi also praised the selected participants for immersing themselves in local communities during their week-long stay. He commended the youth for building lasting bonds with the villagers. “The enthusiasm displayed by the youth across the country has been remarkable. Approximately 3 lakh young people participated in this initiative and over 400 were selected. You all spent a week in these remote villages, places that were previously unfamiliar to you. You endeavoured to experience life there, integrate with the local community and connect your own culture with theirs. There could hardly be a better example of the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”, the Prime Minister asserted.
