New Delhi, Jul 12 (PTI) Nation-building is not the sole remit of Parliament or government offices but begins with the actions of every responsible citizen, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Sunday.
Addressing the ‘Youth for Governance – Unplugged’ event at St. Mark’s School in Janakpuri, Sood said governance is shaped not only by elected representatives but also by citizens through their everyday actions.
The event brought together students, young entrepreneurs and aspiring leaders for a discussion on the theme, “Is India Harnessing Its Youth Potential or Facing a Youth Crisis?” “Government is formed by a few people, but governance is shaped by society. A developed India cannot be built by governments alone; it requires the participation of every citizen,” he said.
He said responsible actions such as keeping public spaces clean, following traffic rules, planting trees, helping others and contributing to social causes are also forms of nation-building.
“If every citizen waits for someone else to build the nation, progress will always remain incomplete. Every responsible action, however small, contributes to the larger vision of Viksit Bharat,” Sood said.
Sood said the Youth for Governance initiative seeks to bridge the gap between young citizens and policymaking by exposing them to governance and public institutions.
He said India’s youth potential could be channelled into public leadership, innovation and social impact through credible platforms.
The event also featured entrepreneurs Akash Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Zypp Electric, and Yash Kalra, founder of GOAT Life, who shared their experiences of entrepreneurship, innovation and building solutions to address public challenges, according to a statement.
Gupta said startups should focus on solving real problems at scale, while Kalra encouraged young people to build ventures with purpose, integrity and consistency.
The programme concluded with an interactive session in which students engaged with the minister and guest speakers on issues related to education, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and public policy, the statement said.
Launched in December 2025, the Youth for Governance initiative aims to encourage participatory governance and nurture young leaders by connecting them with discussions on governance, leadership and innovation, it added. PTI SHB RHL
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