The residential camps will provide young people with opportunities to deepen their understanding of India’s constitutional and democratic traditions
Kolkata to host the First Camp from 24th – 30th June, 2026
NEW DELHI, JUNE 23, 2026: The Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, through MY Bharat, will organise Vande Mataram Camps across the country. The first camp in this regard is being organised in Kolkata, West Bengal, from 24 to 30 June 2026, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, as a flagship youth mobilisation initiative aimed at strengthening national integration, constitutional values, and youth leadership.
Conceived as immersive seven-day residential camps, the initiative seeks to provide young people with opportunities to deepen their understanding of India’s constitutional and democratic traditions while promoting cultural confidence and civic responsibility. The camps are aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and are designed to nurture a generation of informed, responsible, and nation-oriented young leaders.
The Vande Mataram Camps draw inspiration from the spirit of ‘Vande Mataram’, symbolising reverence for the motherland and emotional integration that transcends regional, linguistic, and social boundaries. The programme seeks to address contemporary youth concerns by promoting civic participation, leadership development, digital literacy, social responsibility, and community engagement.
The initiative will comprise 20 camps across identified districts, each hosting 150 youth participants aged 15–29 years, with participation from six States per camp, mandatory representation from the Northeast, and at least 50% participation from women and socially disadvantaged sections. The camps will cover approximately 3,000 youth and include themes ranging from constitutional values and cultural exchange to leadership development and flagship schemes.
The week-long camps will feature thematic sessions on the historical significance of Vande Mataram and its role in India’s freedom movement, the Constitution and civic duties, cultural exchanges through language, cuisine and sports, visits to sites of historical importance, Nation First dialogues and extempore sessions, leadership and community mobilisation workshops, and discussions on flagship government initiatives.
The Vande Mataram Camps reaffirm the Ministry’s commitment to harnessing the energy, idealism and creativity of India’s youth in advancing the ideals of unity, constitutional values and nation-building.
