The Government of India launched the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) initiative in October 2025 as a joint programme of three ministries: the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The initiative aims to build democratic awareness and civic participation skills among school-going youth by having them simulate the functioning of a Gram Sabha — the foundational unit of grassroots democracy in India.
Under the MYGS initiative, students from over 1,000 schools across participating states will conduct simulated Gram Sabha sessions, where they take on roles of elected representatives, discuss local developmental issues, pass resolutions, and practice deliberative democracy. The programme is closely aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises experiential learning, civic education, and community engagement as core competencies in school education.
A dedicated MYGS portal has been launched to facilitate registration of schools, submission of session reports, and sharing of best practices across states. The portal also provides educational resources including a Gram Sabha handbook, role-play scripts, issue-based case studies, and video tutorials on Panchayati Raj institutions.
The convergence of the three ministries is notable because it ensures the initiative reaches tribal schools and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in addition to regular government schools. For Rajasthan, which has a significant tribal population in districts like Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur (Kotda), and Pratapgarh, the MYGS initiative through Ministry of Tribal Affairs-linked EMRS schools is particularly relevant.
The MYGS initiative builds on the spirit of Article 243A of the Indian Constitution, under which a Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and perform such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide. By instilling these values in youth early, the government aims to strengthen the future cadre of informed and participatory citizens who will drive Panchayati Raj institutions effectively.