Kamal Ghorui
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged young people across the country to apply for Yuva Sangam Phase 6, a youth exchange programme organised under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) initiative.In a recent post on X, the commission encouraged students and young professionals to register for the programme and take part in educational and cultural visits to different parts of India.According to the Ministry of Education (MoE), Yuva Sangam is a youth exchange programme launched by the Department of Higher Education (DHE), Government of India. The initiative aims to help young people learn about the culture, traditions and development journey of different States and Union Territories.The programme also focuses on building stronger connections among youth and promoting the idea of “Unity in Diversity” through structured exchange visits between paired States and Union Territories.
Who can apply for Yuva Sangam Phase 6
As per the Ministry of Education, the following candidates are eligible to apply:
- Youth aged between 18 and 30 years
- Students from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
- National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers
- Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) volunteers
- Young professionals
How to apply
Eligible candidates can apply online through the official portals: ebsb.aicte-india.org and ekbharat.gov.in. Applicants must register using their APAAR ID. The last date to apply is March 18, 2026, till 11:59 PM.
What selected participants will get
According to the Ministry of Education, selected participants will be part of educational and cultural tours lasting five to seven days. Travel days will not be included in the tour duration.Participants will visit paired States or Union Territories and interact with local communities to understand their culture and development practices.These visits will be hosted by 22 identified Higher Education Institutions across India.
State and HEI pairing for Yuva Sangam Phase 6
Below is the official list of paired States/Union Territories and Higher Education Institutions for Phase VI:
Strong participation in previous phases
The Ministry said that since the launch of Yuva Sangam, more than 6,000 youth and coordinators have already taken part in the programme.The previous phase of the programme received over 46,000 registrations, showing strong interest among young people, ANI reports.
Themes of Yuva Sangam Phase 6
The programme focuses on five key themes, often referred to as the “5 Ps”:
- Paryatan: Tourism
- Parampara: Traditions and culture
- Pragati: Development and governance
- Paraspar Sampark: People-to-people connections
- Prodyogiki: Technology and innovation
Through these themes, participants get a chance to see how different regions of the country function, learn about local traditions and understand technological and social developments.
How the programme is implemented
Yuva Sangam follows a “Whole of Government” approach. The initiative is implemented with the support of Central ministries and departments, State governments, Nodal Higher Education Institutions.This coordinated system helps organise the visits, manage travel and ensure meaningful learning experiences for participants.The programme also supports the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages experiential learning and cultural understanding among students.
