The Ministry of Education has officially commenced online registrations for Yuva Sangam Phase VII, a significant youth exchange initiative operating under the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ (EBSB) banner. This program offers young citizens a unique opportunity to undertake five-to-seven-day exchange tours to various paired states and Union Territories, fostering an understanding of India's rich cultural, educational, and developmental tapestry.
Interested candidates can submit their applications online starting August 4, 2026, with the deadline set for August 18, 2026.
Understanding Yuva Sangam
Yuva Sangam is a dedicated youth exchange program spearheaded by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. Its core objective is to strengthen emotional connections among young people from diverse regions of India by immersing them in the country's cultural, linguistic, educational, and developmental variety.
The program is structured around five key themes, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:
- Paryatan (Tourism)
- Parampara (Tradition & Culture)
- Pragati (Development & Governance)
- Paraspar Sampark (People-to-People Connect)
- Prodyogiki (Technology & Innovation)
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants
To be eligible for Yuva Sangam Phase VII, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be an Indian citizen aged between 18 and 30 years.
- Students currently pursuing Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), or PhD programs.
- Volunteers from NSS (National Service Scheme) and NYKS (Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan).
- Employed or self-employed youth.
- Off-campus youth not currently enrolled in any formal educational institution.
- Applicants must be medically fit and prepared for travel.
The Ministry emphasizes that the selection process will ensure broad representation across genders, educational backgrounds, rural and remote areas, and different societal sections.
How to Apply for Yuva Sangam Phase VII
Follow these steps to complete your online registration:
- Visit the official Yuva Sangam registration portal and click on the 'Register' option.
- Choose your appropriate registration category: 'On-Campus Youth' (for students currently enrolled in a college, university, or institution) or 'Off-Campus Youth' (for youth not part of a campus program).
- If you select 'On-Campus Youth', specify your academic level (UG, PG, or PhD) and enter your university/college/institution name, along with your current academic stream.
- If you select 'Off-Campus Youth', provide details of your highest academic qualification.
- Complete all mandatory personal information, address details, identity proof, and state information.
- Enter the Captcha verification code.
- Carefully read and accept the program's rules and regulations.
- Click 'Register' to submit your application.
Upon successful submission, applicants will receive a confirmation message and an email. Shortlisted delegates will subsequently be contacted by their respective nodal institutions.
Participating Institutions
For Yuva Sangam Phase VII, the Ministry of Education has designated 20 esteemed Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to serve as nodal institutions. These include prominent IITs, NITs, IIMs, and Central Universities. These institutions are paired with various states and Union Territories across India to organize and facilitate the educational and cultural exchange visits, allowing delegates to immerse themselves in India's diverse traditions, governance models, innovation ecosystems, and local communities.