Model Youth Gram Sabha Initiative (MYGS) - Youth in Governance

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The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in partnership with the Ministry of Education (Department of School Education & Literacy) and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has launched the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) initiative to strengthen youth engagement in local governance.

A Training Module on Model Youth Gram Sabha and an MYGS portal were also launched to enable structured youth participation in local governance.

About the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)

The Model Youth Gram Sabha, aligned with NEP 2020, will be rolled out in 1,000+ schools, including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), and State Government Schools. 

Policy Context

With over 6.64 lakh villages and nearly 65-70% of India’s population living in rural areas, Gram Sabhas remain central to grassroots governance. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment established the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, and under Article 243, the Gram Sabha functions as a constitutional body enabling direct democracy at the village level.

However, youth participation has remained limited due to low awareness and a lack of structured engagement in Gram Sabha processes.

To strengthen civic awareness in students, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in partnership with the Department of School Education and Literacy, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has introduced the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) to promote democratic values and public responsibility.

Model Youth Gram Sabha Framework

• The Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) simulates Gram Sabha proceedings in schools, giving students practical exposure to grassroots governance. Through structured role-play and deliberation exercises, students learn decision-making, consensus-building, and accountability in local governance.
• Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the initiative aims to build constitutional values, civic responsibility, and understanding of Panchayati Raj institutions.
• Students assume roles such as Sarpanch, Ward Members, Panchayat officials, frontline workers, and representatives of different community groups, allowing them to voice local priorities and propose solutions.
• The simulated Gram Sabha follows formal processes - agenda circulation, meeting notices, discussion on past decisions, new proposals, budget planning, fund gaps, and revenue ideas. Decisions are finalised through voting, and resolutions are formally recorded.
• Each participating school receives a one-time grant of INR 20,000 to conduct the mock Gram Sabha.

MYGS is implemented through three components:

• National Level Master Trainer (NLMT) Guide: Outlines Gram Sabha procedures and facilitator roles.
• Facilitation of Training Module for Teachers: Simplified resource for democratic learning and life-skills training.
• Evaluation Framework: Assesses learning outcomes before, during, and after the exercise.

Expected Outcomes

The initiative aims to strengthen democratic values and youth engagement in local governance. It seeks to:

• Build familiarity with grassroots democratic processes and encourage participation in local decision-making.
• Develop early civic and leadership skills, preparing youth for future roles in public institutions.
• Provide a platform for young voices to articulate community issues and contribute to local problem-solving.

DhruvStar Industry Insights: What it Means for Industry

• Civic-Tech & Digital Skilling Opportunity: Youth exposure to governance processes may create demand for platforms on digital public services, budgeting dashboards, etc. This might open opportunities for civic-tech, vernacular ed-tech, and local governance training startups.
• Rural MSME & FPO Talent Pipeline: Hands-on governance experience can strengthen managerial and operational talent for Farmer Producer Organisations, cooperatives, and rural MSMEs.
• Digital-to-Rural Service Models: Scope may expand for fintech, agri-advisory, and employment-linked platforms tailored for village-level users and institutions.

Sources

[1] PIB

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