Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Member-HR, Capacity Building Commission, facilitated a Yuva Dialogue between the Hon’ble Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, and a group of students representing a diverse cross-section of India, drawn from different institutions, disciplines, regions, and social contexts. The dialogue created a rare space for young citizens, who had just witnessed the Union Budget 2026 being presented live at the Parliament, to engage directly with the Finance Minister on India’s economic priorities, opportunities, and challenges. One of the most powerful takeaways from the interaction was the clear emphasis on future readiness, a core outcome envisioned under Mission Karmayogi. The Union Budget 2026, with its focus on Yuva Shakti, capacity building, skills, technology, and long-term national capability, strongly reflected this orientation. It was particularly heartening to see a strong resonance of the Sankalp of Kartavya draw in the Finance Minister’s articulation of the Union Budget 2026. The Budget’s emphasis on responsibility, long-term nation-building, and empowering youth as productive contributors aligns closely with the values embedded in the Karmayogi Competency Model. This alignment reinforces the direction of our work at the Capacity Building Commission, enabling officers across the civil services to build the capabilities, mindset, and competencies required to deliver on the vision of a Viksit Bharat. Engaging young citizens in conversations around public finance and governance is not symbolic; it is essential. Today’s youth are not only beneficiaries of policy, but they are also the future administrators, professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders who will carry this vision forward.
