New Delhi, July 7: The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on Tuesday organised the prize distribution function of 17th National Youth Parliament Competition, 2024-25 for Universities and Colleges at GMC Balayogi Auditorium, Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.
Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, presided over the function and presented the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Running Parliamentary Shield and Trophy to the winning team of students of the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.
Group Level Winner Trophies were also presented to seven Universities/Colleges for their meritorious performance in the Competition.
The students of the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, which secured the first position at the National Level in the 17th National Youth Parliament Competition, 2024-25 for Universities and Colleges, presented a repeat performance of their Youth Parliament Sitting.
In his welcome address, Nikunja Bihari Dhal, Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs informed that 51 Universities and Colleges from across the country participated in the 17th National Youth Parliament Competition and expressed the Ministry's endeavour to further expand participation in the coming years so that a larger number of students may benefit from the Youth Parliament Programme.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Pervez Ahmed, Dean, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kashmir, expressed his happiness for being present on the national stage along with the winning team from the University of Kashmir.
He thanked the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs for providing such a prestigious platform to the students.
He observed that the Youth Parliament Programme reinforces democratic and constitutional values among the youth and provides students with an opportunity to showcase their talent, enhance their confidence and develop leadership qualities.
He also appreciated the support and assistance extended by the Ministry throughout the competition.
In his address, Meghwal congratulated the students for their excellent demonstration of parliamentary procedures and observed that they are not only the future of the country but also its future leaders. Recalling the inspirational message of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Meghwal exhorted the students to dream big, translate their dreams into goals, and work with a well-defined plan to realise them. He expressed confidence that the students would make meaningful contributions to nation-building and wished them success in all their future endeavours.
The Minister also administered the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Pledge to all the participants and attendees during the function.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has been organising Youth Parliament Competitions for Universities and Colleges for the past 29 years. Under the Youth Parliament Competition Programme for Universities and Colleges, the 17th Competition in the series was organised among 51 Universities and Colleges across the country.
The Youth Parliament Programme aims at inculcating among the younger generation the spirit of self-discipline, tolerance of diverse opinions, righteous expression of views and other virtues of a democratic way of life. The programme also acquaints students with the practices and procedures of Parliament, techniques of discussion and debate, and develops in them self-confidence, leadership qualities and the art and skill of effective oratory.