The Centre will organise the nationwide “Khelo India Dialogue – Khel Ki Baat, Pradhan Mantri Modi Ke Saath” on August 27 as part of the celebrations for National Sports Day 2026. The initiative will connect young athletes, students, sportspersons and policymakers across more than 1,500 educational institutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address young participants virtually during the programme and speak on sports, youth leadership and the vision of Viksit Bharat. The initiative is designed to provide young people with a platform to share ideas and suggestions on the future of India's sports ecosystem and youth development.

According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), institutions including IITs, IIMs, NITs, AIIMS, leading medical colleges and universities will participate in the nationwide programme. Physical programmes will begin simultaneously at participating institutions after the Prime Minister's virtual address.

Four Key Themes

The dialogue will focus on four broad areas related to sports and youth development. These include strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure, improving coaching and opportunities for athletes, developing talent for the 2036 Olympics and encouraging greater youth participation in governance.

The programme will also discuss future-ready skills, volunteering and opportunities for young people to contribute to nation-building.

A major focus will be on identifying and nurturing sporting talent through scientific methods and structured athlete development. The initiative comes amid India's broader efforts to strengthen its sporting ecosystem and prepare athletes for future international competitions.

Athletes to Interact With Youth

Young participants will also get an opportunity to interact with leading Indian sportspersons and medal winners. According to the PIB, prominent athletes including Deepa Karmakar, Saina Nehwal, Gagan Narang, Sreejesh, Mary Kom, Baichung Bhutia, Gopichand, Anju Bobby George, Karnam Malleswari, Mirabai Chanu and P.T. Usha will participate.

Prominent cricketers are also expected to engage with young participants and discuss their sporting journeys, challenges and experiences.

The interactions are intended to give students and aspiring athletes a closer understanding of the challenges involved in building a sporting career and the experiences of athletes who have competed at the highest levels.

Policymakers to Join Dialogue

The programme will bring policymakers into direct interaction with young people. Members of Parliament, MLAs, Union Ministers, Ministers of State and state sports ministers will participate at various locations.

They will engage with youth and gather suggestions on the four identified themes, creating a platform for discussions between young people, athletes and government representatives.

The government has positioned the initiative as a way to connect the experiences and aspirations of young people at the grassroots level with policymaking.

Focus on 2036 Olympics

The development of athletes with an eye on the 2036 Olympics will be one of the key areas of discussion. The dialogue will explore scientific talent identification and athlete development as part of efforts to build a stronger pipeline of sporting talent.

The government is also seeking to expand youth participation beyond competitive sports by encouraging leadership, volunteering and engagement in nation-building activities.

Quiz and MY Bharat Registration

The programme will also feature the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue Quiz. Young participants will be encouraged to register on the MY Bharat Portal, providing an opportunity for continued youth engagement beyond the August 27 event.

The nationwide format is expected to bring together thousands of young people at educational institutions across the country, allowing them to participate in discussions around sports, leadership and India's future development.

The initiative is being organised as part of National Sports Day 2026 and aims to place young people at the centre of discussions on India's sporting transformation and youth development.

The event will be held at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium in the Parliament Library Building, where outstanding universities, colleges and students will be recognised for their performance in the national-level competition.

A major highlight of the ceremony will be the presentation of the prestigious Atal Bihari Vajpayee Running Parliamentary Shield to the University of Kashmir, which secured the top position at the national level. Students from the university will also recreate their award-winning Youth Parliament performance during the programme.

The National Youth Parliament Competition has become one of the key initiatives aimed at promoting democratic awareness among students across the country. Organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the competition has been conducted for universities and colleges for nearly three decades and continues to attract participation from higher educational institutions nationwide.

According to the ministry, the 17th edition of the competition witnessed participation from 51 universities and colleges from different states and Union Territories. The initiative seeks to familiarise students with parliamentary procedures, legislative debates and democratic decision-making processes while encouraging constructive dialogue on public issues.

Officials said the programme is designed to nurture values such as self-discipline, tolerance towards differing viewpoints and respect for democratic institutions. Through simulated parliamentary sessions, participants gain practical exposure to debate, discussion and consensus-building, skills considered essential for future leadership roles.

Beyond parliamentary awareness, the competition also aims to strengthen communication abilities, public speaking skills and confidence among young participants. Over the years, it has emerged as a platform for students to engage with governance-related issues and better understand the functioning of India's parliamentary democracy.

Apart from the overall national winner, seven institutions that secured first position in their respective groups will also receive trophies during the ceremony.

The institutions selected for recognition include DAV College, Jalandhar (Punjab), Jadavpur University, Kolkata (West Bengal), Shivaji University, Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (Punjab), SSMRV College, Bengaluru (Karnataka), Chanakya National Law University, Patna (Bihar) and Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (Haryana).

The award ceremony is expected to bring together students, faculty members, academic administrators and officials associated with the Youth Parliament programme. The ministry views the initiative as an important step in encouraging youth participation in democratic processes and creating awareness about the responsibilities that come with citizenship.

As India continues to focus on youth engagement in governance and public policy, programmes such as the National Youth Parliament Competition are being seen as valuable platforms for developing informed, articulate and responsible future leaders.

Annamalai, who resigned from the BJP in June 2026 after citing ideological differences with the party's central leadership, has begun laying the groundwork for his new political movement through outreach campaigns and leadership training programs. His initiative, branded around the theme "We The People," is aimed at attracting young leaders and expanding grassroots participation.

Youth-Centric Organization

According to sources associated with the new outfit, district-level coordinators will be selected exclusively from individuals below the age of 50. The move is being seen as an attempt to project the party as a fresh alternative in Tamil Nadu politics and appeal to younger voters.

Annamalai has already conducted leadership training sessions in his hometown of Aravakurichi, focusing on organizational development and political engagement.

Strategic Electoral Focus

Political observers say the emerging party is likely to target two key voter segments:

• OBC and MBC communities: With actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay and his party gaining traction among Dalit and minority voters, Annamalai is expected to focus on Other Backward Classes (OBC), Most Backward Classes (MBC), and sections of the general category electorate.
• Kongu Region: The western Tamil Nadu belt, often considered electorally decisive with 57 Assembly seats, is expected to be a major focus area. Annamalai's campaign is likely to target farmers, traders, and the middle class in the region.

From IPS Officer to Political Leader

Annamalai joined the BJP in August 2020 after resigning from the Karnataka cadre of the Indian Police Service. He was quickly elevated to the post of Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president and later became state president in 2021.

During his tenure, he launched the "En Mann, En Makkal" (My Land, My People) yatra and emerged as one of the BJP's most recognizable faces in Tamil Nadu. He contested Assembly and Lok Sabha elections but was unable to significantly expand the party's vote share in the state.

Reasons Behind the Exit

In his resignation letter, Annamalai stated that differences with the BJP's top leadership had widened over the past 18 months. He said his vision for Tamil Nadu politics no longer aligned with that of the party leadership.

He also emphasized that his decision was driven by a desire to remain connected to the people of Tamil Nadu and pursue a distinct political path.

Impact on Tamil Nadu Politics

Political analysts believe Annamalai's departure could have several implications:

• BJP may face challenges retaining its appeal among urban youth and first-time voters.
• The party has lost one of its most prominent faces in Tamil Nadu.
• Opposition votes against the ruling DMK could become more fragmented if Annamalai builds an independent support base.

However, experts note that BJP continues to benefit from the popularity of Narendra Modi and could offset organizational losses through alliances, including with AIADMK.