The Odisha delegation, led by the nodal institution, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur, arrived in Himachal Pradesh on 5 October 2026 for Yuva Sangam Phase VII. The delegation is being hosted by the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hamirpur.
The delegates received a warm welcome from NIT Hamirpur and are exploring the State’s culture, traditions, educational institutions and way of life. As part of the visit, the student delegation met the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on 6 October 2026. The Chief Minister welcomed the delegates and interacted with them.
The delegation also met the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on 7 October 2026. The interaction provided an opportunity for the delegates to hear the President’s views on India’s diversity and the importance of national unity. This was the first time that Yuva Sangam delegates had interacted with the President.
The Odisha-Himachal Pradesh exchange under Yuva Sangam Phase VII aims to encourage young Indians to explore the country’s diversity, engage with communities beyond their home States and develop an appreciation of India’s shared cultural heritage. The exchange provides participants with an opportunity to learn about different cultures and traditions, contributing to the vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and strengthening national unity.
The Department of Higher Education, Union Ministry of Education, has launched Yuva Sangam Phase VII under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme to strengthen cultural and emotional bonds among the youth of India. The initiative enables young participants to experience the cultural heritage, traditions, educational landscape and developmental achievements of different States and Union Territories through 20 pairings of States and higher education institutions, fostering mutual understanding and national integration.
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