Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attended an exhibition featuring participants of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. PM Modi announced that he would spend the entire day with over 3,000 “dynamic young leaders” selected from across the nation.

This dialogue is part of the Prime Minister’s initiative to engage 100,000 youth without political affiliations in the political arena. The event coincides with National Youth Day, which celebrates the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

On Saturday, Modi expressed his enthusiasm, stating that he would spend the day with “my young friends,” engaging in discussions and lunch focused on various topics aimed at fostering a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

The selected youths have demonstrated a strong interest in fields such as science, technology, innovation, and culture. The two-day Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue commenced on Saturday at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, organized by the Department of Youth Affairs.

The inaugural session was attended by notable figures, including Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Raksha Khadse, Anand Mahindra, Palki Sharma, S. Somnath, Pawan Goenka, Amitabh Kant, and Ronnie Screwvala. The ceremony featured the traditional lighting of the lamp and a floral tribute to Swami Vivekananda, whose enduring principles continue to inspire the youth of the nation.

The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue aims to move away from the conventional format of the National Youth Festival that has been in place for 25 years, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision expressed on Independence Day to engage one lakh youth in politics without any political ties, providing them with a national platform to turn their visions for a developed India into reality.

During the event, the Prime Minister is expected to launch a compilation of the best essays submitted by participants on ten diverse themes, including technology, sustainability, women empowerment, manufacturing, and agriculture. In a unique move, he will also join the young leaders for lunch, creating an opportunity for them to share their ideas, experiences, and aspirations directly with him.

Earlier today, BJP National President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda praised the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, highlighting its empowering nature for the youth, encouraging them to play a meaningful role in nation-building. In a post on X, Nadda noted, “I hosted young leaders from Himachal Pradesh under the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogues program in New Delhi. I shared my journey and experiences while listening attentively to their innovative ideas and fresh perspectives.

“Platforms like this instill a sense of empowerment and confidence among youngsters, inspiring them to contribute meaningfully to nation-building. I am uplifted by the energy and passion of these young minds and truly impressed by their commitment to the vision of Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji for ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’,” he added in his post.

Former Assam cricketer Devajit Saikia has been appointed as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), succeeding Jay Shah, whose departure left the position unfilled for more than a month following his elevation to chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Saikia’s first official duty in his new position was to attend a meeting with BCCI president Roger Binny, where they discussed India’s recent performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Reports indicate that Indian team captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir were also in attendance.

According to reports, the meeting involved an in-depth analysis of the Indian team’s performance during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, addressing what went wrong and identifying necessary corrective actions. However, it was noted that there would not be any hasty decisions by the new BCCI leadership, especially with the Champions Trophy 2025 approaching in just a few weeks.

Hailing from Assam, Saikia brings a rich blend of experience in cricket, law, and administration to his new role. He played as a first-class cricketer from 1990 to 1991, participating in four matches as a wicketkeeper, scoring 53 runs, and making nine dismissals.

After his time in the field, Saikia pursued a legal career, beginning as a lawyer at the Gauhati High Court at the age of 28. Prior to his legal practice, he held positions in the Northern Frontier Railways and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under sports quota provisions.

Saikia ventured into cricket administration in 2016, becoming one of six vice presidents of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) during the presidency of Hemanta Biswa Sarma, who is now the Chief Minister of Assam. He later held the position of ACA secretary from 2019 before being elected as BCCI joint secretary in 2022.

At 55, Saikia reflects on his entry into cricket administration, asserting that he never intended to take on an administrative role but felt “compelled” to do so after witnessing corruption within Assam’s cricket administration. In a past interaction with broadcasters, he remarked, “It was never my intention to be a cricket or sports administrator. Even today, I don’t like being an administrator.”

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. During his visit, Jaishankar is also expected to hold meetings with representatives from the incoming administration and other dignitaries present at the event.

In a statement, the Centre announced, “On the invitation of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S. Jaishankar will represent the Government of India at the Swearing-In Ceremony of President-Elect Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America.”

Donald Trump will be inaugurated on January 20 at noon (Eastern Time), taking the presidential oath of office administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in front of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Prior to Trump’s swearing-in, Vice President-elect JD Vance’s ceremony will take place.

Last month, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) announced the theme for the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies as “Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise,” which honours the commitment of the Founders to future generations of Americans to uphold the integrity of the democratic system.

During Trump’s inauguration, flags will be lowered to half-staff. President Biden has directed that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days in memory of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100. This directive will be in effect until sunset on January 28.

The United States Congress certified Donald Trump’s victory in the November presidential election on January 6, clearing the final obstacle to his return to the White House later this month. This official validation confirmed the results of the 2024 Electoral College.

The congressional event, chaired by Vice President Kamala Harris—Trump’s primary opponent in the election—was brief and took place without much fanfare.

Among the foreign dignitaries expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony are Argentine President Javier Milei, British Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and a representative from a right-leaning French political party.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was invited to the ceremony, but passport issues might prevent him from making the trip. Additionally, although President Xi Jinping of China was invited by Trump to the inaugural festivities, he will instead send a high-level envoy in his place.