Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Communications on 12th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has facilitated the selection of three Indian "Sanchar Mitras" as International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Generation Connect Youth Envoys for the 2026–2030 period. Announced on International Youth Day 2026, this initiative aims to integrate Indian youth into global discussions on digital transformation and inclusive development. The selected envoys will contribute to international ICT initiatives, reflecting India's growing role in shaping the global digital future.
Key Points / Main Content
Selection of Youth Envoys
Three Sanchar Mitras—Ankit Kumar Pal (Delhi), Manish Kumar Mandal (Bengaluru), and Susmita Sain (Guwahati)—have been appointed to the third cohort of ITU Generation Connect Youth Envoys.
The selection recognizes their contributions under the DoT’s Sanchar Mitra scheme and their engagement in ICT education, digital inclusion, and innovation.
The envoys will serve a four-year term from 2026 to 2030.
ITU Generation Connect Programme
The program provides a platform for young people to contribute to national, regional, and global initiatives regarding Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
It focuses on digital transformation, connectivity, and inclusive digital development.
A virtual event, “Passing the Torch: Connecting Generations of Digital Leaders,” was held to transition between the outgoing and incoming cohorts.
The Sanchar Mitra Scheme
The scheme engages Indian youth as catalysts for digital empowerment and societal outreach.
Sanchar Mitras conduct awareness drives on telecom-related issues, including fraud prevention, mobile security, and responsible telecom usage.
It is open to students from technical institutes specializing in telecom, electronics, computers, cybersecurity, or related fields.
Implementation and Scope
The Sanchar Mitra scheme is implemented across all Indian states and Union Territories through the Licensed Service Area (LSA) field offices of the DoT.
More than 200 technical institutions currently participate in the scheme.
The initiative seeks to provide youth with exposure to both national and international platforms like the ITU.
Impact Analysis
Selected Youth EnvoysImpact
The selected individuals gain a significant international platform to lead and influence global digital policy and ICT initiatives for the next four years.
Action Required
They must participate in global discussions and represent the interests of the youth in shaping the digital future as part of the ITU cohort.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT)Impact
The DoT strengthens its commitment to empowering Indian youth and enhances India's presence in international telecommunication forums.
Action Required
The DoT must continue to identify and nominate suitable candidates from the Sanchar Mitra pool and manage the implementation of the scheme via its LSA field offices.
Technical InstitutesImpact
Participating institutes provide their students with high-level career development opportunities and international exposure in the tech and telecom sectors.
Action Required
Eligible institutes must maintain active programs in relevant technical fields and agree to participate in the Sanchar Mitra scheme to facilitate student nominations.
Indian Youth/StudentsImpact
Students gain opportunities for community-level engagement and potential selection for global leadership roles in the digital sector.
Action Required
Interested students must demonstrate active engagement in ICT skills, research, entrepreneurship, or community-level digital initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Sanchar Mitra Scheme: A Department of Telecommunications initiative that engages youth volunteers to promote digital empowerment, telecom security awareness, and responsible telecom usage.
ITU Generation Connect Youth Envoys: A global program by the International Telecommunication Union that selects young leaders to contribute to international discussions on ICTs and digital transformation.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The primary government department responsible for facilitating the selection of Indian youth for international representation and implementing the Sanchar Mitra initiative.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU): The United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies that oversees the global Generation Connect initiative.
Ministry of Communications
Three Sanchar Mitras Selected as ITU
Generation Connect Youth Envoys for the period
2026–2030
Recognition highlights growing role of Indian youth in
shaping the global digital future
प्रव तथ: 12 AUG 2026 7:27PM by PIB Delhi
With an objective of creating opportunities for India’s youth to learn, participate, lead and contribute to the
evolving digital future at the international level, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT),
Government of India, has facilitated the selection of three Sanchar Mitras (youth volunteers) from India as
Generation Connect Youth Envoys (GCYE) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This
comes as the global community celebrates International Youth Day 2026 under the theme “Different
Contexts, Common Aspirations”. The Generation Connect community marked the occasion through the
virtual “Passing the Torch: Connecting Generations of Digital Leaders” event today , bringing together the
outgoing and incoming cohorts of Generation Connect Youth Envoys.
Ankit Kumar Pal from Delhi, Manish Kumar Mandal from Bengaluru and Susmita Sain from Guwahati
have been selected as part of the third cohort of ITU Generation Connect Youth Envoys for the period
2026–2030 in recognition of their contribution under the Sanchar Mitra scheme of DoT. Their selection
marks an important recognition of the growing role of Indian youth in shaping the global digital future.
The Generation Connect Youth Envoys programme provides young people with opportunities to
contribute to national, regional and global discussions and initiatives related to Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs), digital transformation and inclusive digital development.
The initiative aligns closely with the objectives of the Sanchar Mitra Scheme, which seeks to engage
young people in telecom and digital initiatives and provide them exposure to national and international
platforms. The scheme also envisages opportunities for selected Sanchar Mitras to participate in global
telecom platforms such as the ITU.
Following ITU’s invitation for nominations to the third cohort of Generation Connect Youth Envoys, the
Department of Telecommunications initiated a process to identify suitable candidates from among Sanchar
Mitras. The process sought candidates with demonstrated engagement in areas including youth-led
initiatives, digital inclusion, ICT education and skills, research and technical activities, entrepreneurship
and innovation, and community-level ICT initiatives.
The recognition also reflects India’s commitment to empowering young people as active contributors to
the country’s digital transformation journey and strengthening youth participation in global conversations
on technology, connectivity and inclusive digital development.Through initiatives such as Sanchar Mitra and its engagement with global platforms including the ITU
Generation Connect programme, the Department of Telecommunications continues to create opportunities
for India’s youth to learn, participate, lead and contribute to the evolving digital future.
About Sanchar Mitra
The Sanchar Mitra Scheme envisions to engage the Yuva Shakti- India’s youth, as catalysts for digital
empowerment and societal outreach. The students nominated as Sanchar Mitra actively conduct awareness
drives in communities, educational institutions, public spaces, etc., focusing on key telecom-related issues,
like citizen-centric telecom services, prevention of telecom frauds and mobile security - promoting digital
safety, and foster responsible telecom usage.
This scheme is open to students from those technical institutes that have active telecom, electronics,
computers, cybersecurity or similar programs and have agreed to participate in the scheme.
The scheme has been implemented across all states/ UTs through the LSA field offices of DoT. More than
200 institutions are currently participating in it.
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