NSS Youth Festival 2026 begins in Sikkim, focuses on service and cultural exchange
NSS Youth Festival 2026 started in Sikkim with volunteers from across the North-East, featuring cultural programmes, technical sessions, and events aimed at nat
The NSS Youth Festival 2026 began in Sikkim on Friday under the Sikkim State National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. The event is designed to bring young NSS volunteers together to support youth leadership, national integration, cultural exchange, and community service.
Five-day festival brings volunteers from North-East states
The festival is scheduled as a five-day programme and includes nearly 300 NSS volunteers from eight North-Eastern states. Organisers said the gathering will act as a platform for leadership development, learning, cultural exchange, and community engagement. It also aligns with the Ministry’s broader effort to encourage youth participation and leadership through nation-building activities.
During the inaugural programme, Sports and Youth Affairs minister Raju Basnet was the chief guest and formally declared the NSS Youth Festival 2026 open. Other officials present included Bikram Pradhan, Advisor, Sports and Youth Affairs Department; Rinzing Wangyal Chopel Bhutia, Chairman, Sikkim State Development Board; Basant Yonzone, Chairman, Sikkim Youth Development Board; and representatives from the NSS Regional Directorate in Guwahati. Yangchen Doma Tamang, Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department; Milan Kumari Pradhan, PCE; and R. B. Biswakarma, Director, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, were also in attendance.
Technical sessions and cultural performances
Along with cultural and competitive events, the festival includes expert-led technical sessions to help participating volunteers build skills and improve their awareness. After the first session, the programme featured cultural performances that highlighted North-East heritage and traditions, with dance presentations by contingents from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and Meghalaya.
In his address, the regional director of the NSS Regional Directorate in Guwahati highlighted youth festivals as spaces for experiential learning, cultural exchange, and national integration. Minister Raju Basnet said the region’s diversity strengthens unity through a shared goal of building a stronger India. He urged volunteers to follow the NSS motto, “Not Me but You”, and practise compassion, responsibility, and selfless service.
