Youth Parliament means a platform for the youth to speak up, participate in the policy direction and have an impact on the growth agenda of the country. It encourages young people to express themselves in an organised manner and enable them to emerge as promising future leaders. The Fourth All India Whips' Conference, held in Bombay in 1962, conceived the idea of encouraging the Youth Parliament in educational institutions in order to further strengthen democracy. This article explains the Youth Parliament which is important for UPSC IAS Examination.

What is Youth Parliament?

• Citizens must possess certain competencies in order to actively and meaningfully participate in the democratic functioning of our civic and political institutions.
• As a result, a suitable programme to prepare youth for their role as citizens in a democracy is required.
• Citizenship education cannot be taught solely by providing students with facts.
• We must consider not only developing competencies in students, but also influencing their attitudes, which are critical for running the country's democracy on the right lines.
• The Youth Parliament is a program that makes effective use of group discussion and role-playing techniques.
• The involvement of young leaders in parliamentary activities is beneficial to the country, but their active participation dependson their familiarity with the procedure.
• Even political parties have recognized the importance of training and orienting their young legislators.
• Given this development, the Youth Parliament scheme should go a long way towards preparing future legislators for their roles in the country's parliament and state legislatures.

Youth Parliament – Historical Background

• The Fourth All India Whips' Conference, held in Bombay in 1962, conceived the idea of encouraging the Youth Parliament in educational institutions in order to further strengthen democracy.
• The Conference recommended that the "Government should encourage mock Parliamentary sessions in educational institutions and through Panchayats in rural areas."
• All subsequent All India Whips' Conferences reaffirmed this recommendation.
• When it first began in 1966-67, the scheme was known as the Mock Parliament Competition Scheme.
• However, the Eight All India Whips' Conference in Bhopal in November 1972 recommended that the name "Mock Parliament" be replaced by "Youth Parliament,".
• Hence, the scheme is now known as the Youth Parliament Competition Scheme.

Youth Parliament – Objectives

The objectives of the Indian Youth Parliament are

• To familiarise the younger generations with the customs and processes of Parliament.
• To instil the spirit of discipline and tolerance in the hearts of young people; and
• To instill core democratic ideals in the student body and to provide them with a comprehensive understanding of how democratic institutions work.
• The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs provides states with the required training and incentive to implement the plan.

Youth Parliament – Facts and Significance

• It helps to familiarise the younger generations with Parliament's practices and procedures.
• It helps to instill the spirit of discipline and tolerance in the minds of youth.
• It instills in the student community the basic values of democracy and enable them to acquire a proper perspective on the functioning of democratic institutions.
• It provides a platform for young people to articulate specific youth-related issues and concerns, but most importantly, to share their perspectives on national-level issues
• It provides a forum for them to express their views, allowing them to conduct an in-depth analysis of the society in which we live.
• Governance necessitates an active citizenry, and given that youth aged 15 to 29 account for 27.5 percent of the population, it is deemed critical to creating more opportunities and mechanisms for civic engagement of youth.
• The Youth Parliament is one of these activities through which we can teach real citizenship.
• The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs provides states with the necessary training and encouragement to implement the scheme.

Youth Parliament in India – Way Forward

• The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has developed a web portal on Youth Parliament, with the aim of spreading the spirit of democracy to every nook and corner of the country.
• It aims to bring all educational institutions of the country under the ambit of National Youth Parliament Scheme.
• Besides contemporary and current issues of national importance, some specific themes on government policies and programmes like Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, etc. may be suggested for discussion at Youth Parliament sitting.
• Each student taking part in the sitting will get a digital certificate of participation.
• Various types of training resources, such as tutorials, literature, training videos, and so on, will be made available through this portal so that participants can receive e-training.
• This portal will also be used to implement and monitor the scheme.

National Youth Parliament Festival

• The National Youth Parliament Festival was inspired by the Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat Address on December 31, 2017.
• In 2019, the inaugural National Youth Parliament Festival was held, with the subject "Be the Voice of New India, Find Solutions, and Contribute to Policy."
• The second National Youth Parliament Festival will debut in December 2020.
• Its goal is to encourage young people aged 18 to 25 to engage with public issues, understand the common man's point of view, form their own opinions, and express them clearly.

Salient Features of the Festival

• This programme is open to all recognised educational institutions in the country.
• Kishore Sabha is for students in Classes IX-XII.
• Tarun Sabha is for students at the Undergraduate/Postgraduate level.
• The education institutions will register for participation using the web-portal.
• To guarantee the scheme's proper execution, member institutions may invite an MP/ex-MP/ MINA/' Ex-MLA/ MLC/ Ex-MLC or a Person of Eminence as the Chief Guest to monitor the performance of the institution's Youth Parliament session.

Conclusion

National Youth Parliament is a unique initiative that teaches youth about parliamentary procedures and political processes. Encourage young people to become involved in public problems, grasp the common man's point of view, create their own opinions, and communicate them clearly. Youth is a time of optimism and desire. It is appropriate to capitalise on this and foster civic competency in our young pupils. Students should be prepared to think critically about public problems and create educated judgments about them as a result of their education.

FAQs 

Question: What is the Youth Parliament?

Question: When was the idea of Youth Parliament first proposed?

Question: What is the National Youth Parliament Festival?

Question: What objectives does the Youth Parliament serve?

Question: How is the Youth Parliament program implemented?

MCQs 

1. When was the concept of Youth Parliament in India first proposed?

A) 1947

B) 1962

C) 1972

D) 1985

2. What is a key objective of the Youth Parliament?

A) Promoting sports competitions

B) Educating youth on parliamentary practices

C) Increasing literacy rates

D) Organizing social events

3. The National Youth Parliament Festival was inspired by which initiative?

A) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

B) Mann Ki Baat

C) Digital India

D) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

4. Who provides training and resources for Youth Parliament sessions?

A) Ministry of Education

B) Ministry of Home Affairs

C) Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

D) NITI Aayog

5. What is the primary goal of the National Youth Parliament Festival?

A) To teach agriculture techniques

B) To encourage youth engagement with public issues

C) To provide vocational training

D) To improve sports infrastructure

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Explain the role of the Youth Parliament in fostering democratic values among youth.

Answer: The Youth Parliament serves as a platform to engage youth with democratic practices by familiarizing them with parliamentary procedures and promoting values like tolerance, discipline, and democratic engagement. It provides a structured environment for young leaders to debate policies, understand the legislative process, and develop critical thinking skills, thereby preparing them to become responsible citizens and future leaders.

Q2: Discuss the historical development of the Youth Parliament scheme in India.

Answer: The Youth Parliament scheme originated in 1962 during the Fourth All India Whips' Conference, aimed at strengthening democracy. Initially known as the Mock Parliament Competition, it was later renamed Youth Parliament to better reflect its focus on engaging youth in democratic practices. The scheme has since evolved, with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs playing a key role in providing training and resources for its implementation.

Q3: Evaluate the impact of the National Youth Parliament Festival on youth engagement in India.

Answer: The National Youth Parliament Festival has significantly boosted youth engagement by providing a platform for young individuals to voice their opinions on public and policy matters. It encourages active participation in national issues, fosters leadership qualities, and helps bridge the gap between youth aspirations and policymaking. This initiative strengthens democratic processes by nurturing informed and engaged future citizens.

Previous Year Questions on Youth Parliament

1. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: Analyze how the Youth Parliament scheme contributes to democratic education in India.

Answer: The Youth Parliament scheme is a critical tool for democratic education, as it acquaints young people with parliamentary procedures, legislative debates, and democratic values. By simulating the workings of Parliament, it instills discipline, tolerance, and public-speaking skills. Participants gain a deeper understanding of the democratic process, enabling them to become more informed citizens who actively contribute to the nation's political and civic life. The scheme's impact on fostering civic engagement underscores its value in strengthening India’s democracy.

2. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: Assess the significance of the National Youth Parliament Festival in promoting civic awareness among youth.

Answer: The National Youth Parliament Festival is pivotal in promoting civic awareness by engaging youth with pressing public issues and policymaking processes. It provides a unique platform for participants to articulate their perspectives, debate policies, and understand governance challenges. This exposure to democratic practices fosters critical thinking and leadership skills. By involving youth in constructive dialogues, the festival strengthens civic consciousness and ensures the active participation of young citizens in shaping India's future.