On 5 June 2026 the Department of Youth Affairs Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through Mera Yuva Bharat MY Bharat commenced the first phase of the Viksit Vibrant Village Program VVVP 2026 a pioneering youth led initiative aimed at strengthening grassroots engagement fostering national integration and promoting sustainable development in India border villages. A total of 500 MY Bharat volunteers selected through a nationwide online quiz competition that witnessed participation from over 3 lakh youth were chosen for the programme. Volunteers representing all States and Union Territories are being deployed in two phases across identified border villages in Ladakh Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. During Phase I 250 volunteers participate in immersive engagements across 43 villages while the remaining 250 will join Phase II activities in 50 villages later this month. The programme is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indo Tibetan Border Police ITBP and aligned with the vision of building a Viksit Bharat at 2047 through active youth participation in nation building. A significant component is the Nation First Challenge a nationwide campaign encouraging responsible citizenship and sustainable lifestyle practices. Volunteers advocate five key themes adoption of Swadeshi products healthy cooking practices public transport usage and fuel conservation promotion of natural farming and vocal support for local tourism. Dedicated control rooms nodal officers village action plans participant orientation and logistical arrangements coordinated through MY Bharat ITBP State Governments District Administrations and local stakeholders have been put in place to facilitate execution.