Event Details
National Youth Parliament 2025-26
FROM 31 Mar 2025 TO 04 Apr 2025
Venue : SMU @
Kezia Chettri, BPT 2nd
yr student from SMCPT had privilege of representing Sikkim in the National Youth Parliament 2025-26, held from March 31 to April 4, 2025, in the Central Hall of the Indian Parliament,
New Delhi. This event was, organized by MyGov, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Nehru
Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), and NSS.
The selection to the prestigious National
Youth Parliament 2025-26 began with one minute video registration round-where
the topic given was “What does Viksit Bharat mean to
you?” Over, 650+
participants from across Sikkim had registered.
Out of them, she got shortlisted for
the district round, representing SMCPT, Gangtok district where she spoke on “One Nation, One Election: Paving the Way for Viksit Bharat.”
Along with participants from Mangan and
Pakyong, a total of 10 candidates were selected for the next round and Kezia
was awarded the second position.
Advancing further, she reached the State
level, where only three participants were selected from all five districts
of Sikkim where she was again Second, earning the incredible
opportunity to represent Sikkim at the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi.
2. State-Level Participation
The State level Youth Parliament was held at the Sikkim
Legislative Assembly. The competition was graced by Hon’ble Deputy Speaker
Rajkumari Thapa as the Chief Guest and as jury member too.
The other jury members included:
- Sonam Tsering, MLA and Chairperson of the Public
Accounts Committee
- Pamin Lepcha, MLA and Advisor to the Social Welfare
Department
At the state level, two topics were addressed:
1. “The 11th Sankalp of Samvidhan Diwas: A Pledge to Strengthen India’s
Constitutional Values”
2. “Celebrating
75 Years of Constitution Day.”
Kezia along with other
students were selected to represent Sikkim at the National level.
3. National-Level
The National Youth Parliament was held at the iconic
Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi, a place where history has been made and
where the first Constituent Assembly of India met. This year’s National Youth Parliament introduced a brand-new format — a replica
of the actual working of the Indian Parliament. The
competition involved winners of 28 states and 8 union territories, with three representatives from each state and UTs.
Everyone had a designated role — either as an MP or a minister.
Kezia
and team from Sikkim
were designated the role of the Ministry of External Affairs, which was both a
huge responsibility and a proud moment.
At the national level, the theme was: “One
Nation, One Election: Simplifying Democracy, Amplifying Progress, and Ensuring
Stability.”
The entire competition
spanned four major sessions:
1. Opening Remarks
2. Question Hour
3. Short Discussions
4. Resolution Drafting
Under the theme:
·
Kezia presented the Opening Remarks session where Sikkim was assigned the topic: Legal and Constitutional Challenges.
·
During the Question Hour, She and her team represented the Ministry of External Affairs.
·
In the Short
Discussion, Sikkim was given the topic: Transitional Model and Implementation Pathway.
·
She also participated in Resolution Drafting as a team, where they
collaboratively drafted the bill and resolutions under the main theme.
Each speaker got the chance
to present their thoughts and contribute actively. This immersive structure
allowed us to understand how government functions and the real dynamics of
policymaking.
4. A Real Parliament Experience
One of the most surreal experiences was entry into the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House
of the Indian Parliament, during a live session where the WAQF Amendment Bill
was being discussed. They sat inside the house and saw political legends in
action — including the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar sir,
Sonia Gandhi, and other eminent parliamentarians like Shashi Tharoor, Smriti
Irani, and Piyush Goyal, among others.
5. Masterclass
They attended a masterclass on oratory and public
speaking by Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, a distinguished Rajya Sabha MP, national
spokesperson of the BJP, and a seasoned parliamentarian known for his
eloquence. His insights on parliamentary conduct, debate strategies, and the
power of impactful speech were deeply inspiring.
6. Meeting Ministers and MPs
Throughout the program, they had the rare opportunity
to interact with several central ministers, MPs, and policy influencers. These
exchanges gave deep insights into how governance works beyond textbooks — about
ground realities, policymaking, and the responsibilities of leadership.
7. Cultural Exchange & Unbreakable Bonds
Sikkim truly won hearts across India. Kezia
and my teammates made it a point to interact with every state and UT representatives. From
Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Mumbai to Manipur , we created strong friendships,
shared our cultures, exchanged ideas, and built bonds that will last a
lifetime. This cultural exchange made them feel deeply connected to the soul of
India
