Yuva Sangam Phase VII Opens Registration for Youth to Explore India’s Culture and Diversity

The Ministry of Education has opened registration for Yuva Sangam Phase VII under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme. This is a youth exchange programme where selected young people from one State or Union Territory will visit another paired State or Union Territory to understand its culture, traditions, education system, development work and daily life. Registration is available through the official EBSB AICTE portal, and the last date to apply is 18 August 2026.

This programme is open to young people aged 18 to 30 years. Students studying in higher education institutions, NSS volunteers, NYKS volunteers, young professionals and other eligible youth can apply. In simple words, this is not only for college students. It is also open to active young people who want to learn about different parts of India through travel and direct experience.

For this phase, 20 major higher education institutions have been selected as nodal institutions. These include IITs, IIMs, Central Universities and NITs. These institutions will help organise and manage the exchange visits. They will support the selected participants during the programme and coordinate the cultural and educational activities.

Selected participants will go on five-to-seven-day educational and cultural tours to their paired State or Union Territory. Travel days are not counted in this duration. During the visit, participants will see local traditions, educational institutions, governance projects, innovation centres, industries, heritage places and community life. The aim is to help young people experience another region of India directly instead of only reading about it.

Some of the State pairings for Phase VII include Uttar Pradesh with Kerala, Rajasthan with Sikkim, and Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with Maharashtra. Other pairings include Madhya Pradesh with Karnataka, Assam with Telangana, Goa with Mizoram, West Bengal with Uttarakhand, Chandigarh with Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh with Odisha, and Delhi with Tamil Nadu.

The programme is based on five main themes called the 5 Ps. These are Paryatan, which means tourism; Parampara, which means traditions and culture; Pragati, which means development and governance; Paraspar Sampark, which means people-to-people connection; and Prodyogiki, which means technology and innovation. Through these themes, participants will learn how different States live, work, grow and preserve their culture.

The purpose of Yuva Sangam is to build stronger emotional connections among young Indians from different regions. It helps youth understand that India has many languages, traditions, food habits, lifestyles and cultures, but still remains one nation. The programme also aims to reduce regional stereotypes and create respect for India’s diversity.

This programme also supports the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020, which encourages learning through real-life exposure and experience. Instead of only classroom learning, students and young professionals get a chance to travel, interact with people, observe development models and understand the culture of another region.

In simple terms, Yuva Sangam Phase VII is a government-supported opportunity for youth to travel to another part of India, learn about its people and culture, and return with a better understanding of national unity. Eligible youth who are interested must apply online before 18 August 2026 through the official EBSB AICTE portal.