**Executive Summary**
Yuva Sangam Phase VI, a Ministry of Education initiative under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, facilitates a cultural exchange between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to foster national integration. A delegation of 50 students from Maharashtra departs for a cultural immersion visit to IIT Tirupati on May 15, 2026, following an orientation held on May 14. A reciprocal visit from Andhra Pradesh students to IISER Pune is scheduled for June 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Program Objectives and Framework**
* **Flagship Initiative:** Yuva Sangam operates under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) initiative to promote national integration and experiential learning.
* **Strategic Vision:** The program aligns with "Viksit Bharat 2047," focusing on youth participation in nation-building, innovation, and cultural harmony.
* **State Pairing:** For Phase VI, Maharashtra is paired with Andhra Pradesh for bilateral cultural exchange.
**Nodal Institutions and Logistics**
* **Designated Leads:** IISER Pune is the nodal institution for Maharashtra, while IIT Tirupati serves as the nodal institution for Andhra Pradesh.
* **Itinerary:** The Maharashtra delegation assembled at IISER Pune on May 14, 2026, for an orientation and flag-off, departing for Tirupati by train on May 15.
* **Reciprocal Visit:** Students from Andhra Pradesh will visit Maharashtra in June 2026, hosted by IISER Pune.
**Delegate Composition**
* **Participant Profile:** The delegation consists of approximately 50 youth, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students, alongside off-campus youth under the age of 30.
* **Academic Diversity:** Delegates represent various districts and disciplines, including science, engineering, literature, law, politics, economics, and business administration.
**Documentation and Media**
* **Public Updates:** Photos, videos, and student reflections will be shared through the official websites and social media channels of the participating institutions and EBSB initiatives.
**Impact Analysis**
**Participating Students**
**Impact**
Delegates gain firsthand experience of India's cultural diversity, evolving into "ambassadors of national integration" while developing a deeper understanding of the country's unity.
**Action Required**
Students must participate in the educational and cultural immersion activities and are encouraged to provide reflections on their journeys for official documentation.
**Nodal Institutions (IISER Pune and IIT Tirupati)**
**Impact**
These institutions facilitate academic and cultural exchange, contributing to India’s scientific preparedness and national unity.
**Action Required**
The institutions must coordinate the logistics of the visits, host the respective delegations, and manage the dissemination of updates and media content.
**Ministry of Education and AICTE Officials**
**Impact**
These bodies oversee the implementation of national integration goals and ensure the program aligns with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
**Action Required**
Dignitaries and officials provide formal oversight and participate in key program milestones, such as orientation and flag-off events.
Key Entities Referenced
Yuva Sangam: A flagship youth exchange program aimed at fostering national integration and cultural immersion among students across Indian states.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB): The primary government initiative under which the Yuva Sangam program is conducted to enhance bonding between diverse regions.
Ministry of Education: The central ministry responsible for the implementation and oversight of the Yuva Sangam and EBSB initiatives.
Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh: The two Indian states paired for the Phase VI cultural exchange delegation and student immersion visits.
Viksit Bharat 2047: The strategic government vision for a developed India, with which this cultural exchange initiative is aligned.
Ministry of Education
Delegation of Students from across Maharashtra
to participate in Phase VI of Yuva Sangam:
Strengthening National Integration Through
Cultural Exchange
Posted On: 14 MAY 2026 9:27PM by PIB Mumbai
Pune, 14 May, 2026
YUVA Sangam is a flagship programme under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB),
an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The programme is
aimed at fostering national integration, cultural exchange, and experiential learning
among youth across the country.
During the ongoing Phase VI of the initiative, states across India are paired up for
cultural exchange. The state of Maharashtra is paired with the state of Andhra
Pradesh, and IISER Pune and IIT Tirupati have been designated as the Nodal
Institutions from the two states.
As part of this cultural exchange initiative, starting May 15, 2026, a delegation of
students from across Maharashtra is undertaking an educational and cultural
immersion visit to Andhra Pradesh and will be hosted by IIT Tirupati. Later, in the
month of June 2026, a delegation of students from across Andhra Pradesh will be
visiting Maharashtra, and will be hosted by IISER Pune.
The Maharashtra delegation includes about 50 students in undergraduate,
postgraduate and doctoral programmes, as well as off-campus youth below the age
of 30. These delegates are from across several districts of Maharashtra and
represent a wide variety of academic disciplines, including science and engineering,
literature, law, politics, economics and business administration. They have
assembled at IISER Pune today and will leave on May 15, 2026, for a train journey
to reach Tirupati.
On May 14, 2026, the IISER Pune Coordinating Team conducted an orientation
session which was followed by a formal flag-off event signaling the beginning of the
journey. Dignitaries from IISER Pune and from AICTE were present at the flag-off
event, including Prof. Sunil Bhagwat (Director, IISER Pune), Dr. Kaneenika Sinha
(IISER Pune Faculty Member and Coordinator) and AICTE officials Sh. Tarun Kakar
and Mrs. Garima Rohela.
Speaking about the initiative, Professor Sunil Bhagwat, Director, IISER Pune, said:“Yuva Sangam provides an exceptional platform for young students to experience
the diversity of India firsthand. As an Institute of National Importance and a science
institute, IISER Pune is delighted to partner on this programme with academic
exchange and cultural immersion. Students develop a deeper understanding of
India’s unity in diversity and emerge as ambassadors of national integration. By
hosting the young participants at scientific and educational institutes, I'm confident
that this would add to India's preparedness in scientific pursuits.”
The programme aligns with Viksit Bharat 2047's vision by encouraging youth
participation in nation-building, innovation, scientific temper, and cultural harmony.
Updates, photographs, student reflections, and videos from the YUVA Sangam
journey will be made available through the official websites and social media pages
of the participating institutions, and Yuva Sangam and Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat
initiatives.
PIB Pune | Harshal Akude/ Priti Malandkar
Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]co
m
(Release ID: 2261240) Visitor Counter : 16
Read this release in: Marathi