Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 25 March 2025
The Youth Parliament under the Viksit Bharat Program, organized at Andaman Law College, has successfully shortlisted the top 10 contestants from a pool of 100 participants. The selection was made after a rigorous screening process, where a five-member jury evaluated the participants based on content, communication skills, presentation, clarity of ideas, and confidence. The shortlisted candidates will now move on to the next round of selection, where three participants will be chosen to represent the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the National Youth Parliament in New Delhi next month.
The panel of jurors included Ms. Atasi Chauhan, Principal of Navy Children School; Mr. Som Naidu, Retired Director of the Civil Supplies Department; Dr. Rashida Iqbal, Retired Assistant Director, Department of Art and Culture; Mr. Vishal Yadav, Principal of PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya No. II; and Mr. Debdas Paik, Senior Scientist and Deputy Manager at ISRO. The screening, held at Andaman Law College, witnessed commendable performances by participants from various colleges across the islands. After careful evaluation, 10 contestants were selected to advance to the final round.
In the upcoming round, these top 10 participants will deliver a four-minute speech on the topic, “75 Years of Indian Constitution: A Journey of Rights, Duties, and Progress.” This round will determine the three finalists who will represent the islands at the National Youth Parliament. The date and venue for this critical round will be communicated to the participants soon.
Inaugurating the event, Mr. Vikram Singh, Director of Education and Sports, A&N Administration, emphasized the importance of cultivating a competitive spirit through participation in sports, debates, and other intellectual engagements. He encouraged the students to enhance their mental faculties by reading good books, listening to lectures, and engaging in meaningful discussions. He also appealed to the teachers to dedicate at least one hour to promote original thinking among students to improve their IQ levels.
Mr. Sukharanjan Biswas, Deputy Director of Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), elaborated on the objectives of the Viksit Bharat – Youth Parliament 2025 initiative. He mentioned that young participants from various colleges and non-student youth from different villages and towns across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands uploaded their one-minute videos on the My Bharat Portal. From the hundreds of entries received, 100 participants were shortlisted after an initial screening held on March 18, in the presence of NSS Programme Officers and other jury members.
Dr. P. V. Nagendra Sarma, Principal of Andaman Law College, welcomed the gathering and expressed his gratitude to the Director of Education and Sports for nominating the college as the nodal institution to conduct this prestigious event. He highlighted that the concept of the Youth Parliament had been widely disseminated to ensure participation from all parts of the islands, including Nicobar.
The smooth coordination of the event was ensured by Mr. Rajiv Mondal, Nodal NSS Programme Officer, Viksit Bharat – Youth Parliament 2025, with active support from NYK APA, Mr. Gopal Biswas. The event was anchored by Ms. Veena, who kept the audience engaged throughout the proceedings. Mementos and certificates were distributed among all participants, including the top 10 selected for the next round.
The enthusiasm and dedication of the students were palpable, with a team of volunteers from Andaman Law College contributing significantly to the event’s success. A selfie-point was set up at the venue, allowing participants to capture moments and share them on their social media platforms. Additionally, students enthusiastically participated in the signature campaign on “One Nation – One Election,” where Mr. Vikram Singh was the first to sign.
As the journey progresses, the top 10 contestants will now prepare for the final round, where three deserving candidates will be selected to represent the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the national stage in New Delhi.