Patna: The Union Ministry of Education has designated the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna as the nodal institution for Bihar under Yuva Sangam Phase VI, a national youth exchange programme conducted under the Government of India’s Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative. The programme aims to promote cultural understanding and educational collaboration among young people from different states.
In the latest phase of the programme, Bihar has been paired with Punjab. IIT Patna will coordinate the academic and cultural visits of participants from Bihar, while IIT Ropar in Punjab has been assigned the role of nodal institution for participants travelling from that state.
Under the initiative, selected youth from Bihar will undertake a five to seven-day educational and cultural visit to Punjab. Participants from Punjab will also travel to Bihar, where they will explore educational institutions, historical sites and cultural landmarks. The exchange is designed to provide young people with first-hand exposure to the culture, traditions, languages and development initiatives of another state.
During the visit, participants will engage in a range of activities including academic institution tours, cultural programmes, interactions with local communities and experiential learning sessions aimed at strengthening mutual understanding and national integration.
Yuva Sangam Phase VI includes 22 higher education institutions across the country. The online registration process for the programme began on March 2, 2026, and young people between the ages of 18 and 30 are eligible to apply. Students from any discipline, volunteers associated with the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), as well as young professionals, can participate.
Prof T N Singh, director of IIT Patna, said the initiative offers an opportunity for young people to understand India’s diversity and strengthen the spirit of national unity. He added that Dr Satendra Kumar from IIT Patna has been appointed as the nodal officer for the programme and will oversee its coordination.
Interested participants can obtain more information and complete their online registration through the official Yuva Sangam portal at ebsb.aicte-india.org. Officials say the programme will give youth from Bihar a valuable opportunity to experience the culture and development of another state while building connections across regions.
