The Youth Spiritual Summit in Varanasi concluded with the formal adoption of the Kashi Declaration—a nationwide pledge for a drug-free India by 2047, driven by spiritual wisdom, youth leadership, and institutional collaboration.
Highlights:
- Theme: Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat
- Venue: Rudraksh International Convention Centre, Varanasi
- Organised by: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- Participants: 600+ youth leaders, 120+ organizations, academicians, domain experts
- Core Outcome: Adoption of the visionary Kashi Declaration
- Key Speakers: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Shiv Pratap Shukla, Shri Nitin Agarwal, Smt. Raksha Khadse
- Focus Areas: Drug abuse prevention, spiritual rehabilitation, grassroots action, policy coordination
- Next Steps: Youth-led national anti-drug campaign under MY Bharat, progress to be reviewed in 2026
The Youth Spiritual Summit concluded today in the sacred city of Varanasi with the adoption of the Kashi Declaration—a key milestone in India’s mission to become drug-free by 2047. Held at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre, the three-day event on the theme “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat” was organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, bringing together 600+ youth leaders, 120+ spiritual and social groups, academicians, and experts.
In his address, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized that the Declaration is not just a document but a collective Sankalp (resolve) rooted in deep dialogue and shared national purpose. “The Kashi Declaration is born from our collective chintan (reflection), guiding the Yuva Shakti to lead Bharat toward sobriety, strength, and self-reliance,” he stated.
The Summit featured four plenary sessions, each delving into crucial aspects of substance abuse:
- Psychological and social impact of addiction
- Supply chains and drug trafficking networks
- Effective grassroots awareness strategies
- Role of spiritual and cultural institutions in prevention and rehabilitation
These discussions laid the intellectual and moral groundwork for the Kashi Declaration, which outlines a multi-sectoral national strategy involving government, civil society, spiritual institutions, and youth organizations. It proposes:
- A Joint National Committee for inter-ministerial coordination
- Annual progress reviews and a national platform for support linkage
- Integration of education, spirituality, and technology in recovery and prevention
- Empowerment of MY Bharat volunteers to lead awareness and de-addiction initiatives
Reflecting the summit’s spiritual essence, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla stated, “Kashi, the sacred cradle of Sanatan Chetna, is not just a meeting ground today — it is where we are planting the seeds of India’s national transformation.”
Shri Nitin Agarwal, Uttar Pradesh’s Minister of Excise and Prohibition, delivered the Day 4 keynote, calling for united efforts across states and society to combat drug abuse. Smt. Raksha Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, warned of the rising threat of digital drug targeting among children and reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy under the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s leadership.
Other dignitaries such as Dr. Virendra Kumar, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Shri Nityanand Rai, and Shri Girish Chandra Yadav shared valuable perspectives across sessions, reinforcing a strong political and institutional will behind the movement.
The summit has paved the way for a nationwide youth-driven anti-drug movement, with MY Bharat youth clubs and volunteers leading pledge campaigns, outreach efforts, and rehabilitation awareness at the grassroots level. The Kashi Declaration will act as a dynamic roadmap, with progress and outcomes to be reviewed at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue in 2026—ensuring sustained action and collective responsibility.
With the spiritual energy of Kashi and the determination of the youth, the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan is now poised to become a defining mission in Bharat’s journey toward a developed and addiction-free future.
