Bhubaneswar: The two-day Budget Quest Grand Finale concluded successfully on Monday with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi appealing to the winners and the youth of Odisha to join hands in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During a virtual interaction with the participants, along with Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the chief minister expressed confidence in the talent and capabilities of India’s youth, stating that they will play a key role in driving the nation’s progress.
The grand finale was organised by MY Bharat, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, government of India, under the theme “Narishakti Viksit Bharat Ki Awaz: Strengthening Inclusive Democracy,” according to an official statement.
The programme was formally inaugurated on April 12 by Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy at the SOA University auditorium. Addressing around 500 youth delegates from Odisha and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, she said that young people, with their energy and creativity, can contribute significantly to nation-building and help India achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Regional Director of NSS, Sarita Patel, and SOA University Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Neeta Mohanty also addressed the gathering.
The Budget Quest initiative was launched on February 2, 2026 by Mandaviya to encourage youth participation in the country’s economic and budgetary processes, particularly the youth-centric Union Budget 2026.
In the initial phase, an online budget quiz conducted through the MY Bharat digital platform saw participation from around 12 lakh youth aged between 15 and 29. Nearly 50,000 participants took part in an essay competition, while 12,000 youth were shortlisted for the national-level stage of the programme.
These finalists are participating in the grand finale across 17 cluster locations in the country, with 500 youth delegates attending the Bhubaneswar cluster representing Odisha and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
As part of the programme, a women’s mock parliament was held on the first day, followed by panel discussions where women delegates engaged in parliamentary-style debates on issues such as women’s empowerment and agriculture, including discussions on the Women’s Reservation Bill.
During a virtual interaction with 12,000 Budget Quest winners across the 17 clusters, Mandaviya highlighted the role of MY Bharat as a single-window platform for youth engagement and outlined its roadmap towards building a developed India by 2047.
