Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh January 23, 2026:
Former Union Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur on Thursday launched a leadership fellowship programme titled “Yuva ChangeMakers” in Dharamshala, aimed at preparing the next generation of young leaders in politics, policymaking, and governance.
During the inauguration event, Thakur interacted with senior journalists, representatives of reputed institutions, and Gen-Z influencers from across the state. He shared the vision, structure, and long-term goals of the programme through a detailed presentation.
Addressing the gathering, Thakur said India is the world’s youngest nation, and the BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to empowering youth and encouraging their participation in nation-building. He added that “Yuva ChangeMakers” would serve as a platform to develop politically skilled, governance-ready and socially responsible leadership in Himachal Pradesh.
Thakur stated that the programme has four key objectives—youth engagement, community impact, leadership development, and talent pipeline. Selected participants will work on real-world micro projects focused on solving local constituency-level issues, supported by mentorship and structured leadership training.
Registrations for the first phase will begin on January 25 (Himachal Foundation Day), with a target of 10,000 registrations through online and offline modes. Thakur said outreach camps and college drives will also be conducted across the state to connect maximum youth with the initiative.
Explaining the selection process, he said the programme will include application evaluation, a motivation essay/video, an online aptitude and leadership test, and district-level interviews. Selected candidates will then attend district bootcamps, followed by a five-day state-level bootcamp. Finalists will get an opportunity to present a live “vision paper” for their district and Himachal Pradesh.
In the final stage, 17 to 21 participants will be selected as “ChangeMakers” for a one-year fellowship, during which they will work directly with Thakur on constituency development projects.
Thakur also announced that the top 21 youth participants will receive an incentive grant of Rs 1.21 lakh each. He said strengthening youth leadership is essential for building a “Developed Himachal,” which is key to achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat.
