Why in News?

  • Recently, The Youth Spiritual Summit, organised under the theme “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat”, concluded in Varanasi with the launch of the Kashi Declaration for Drug-Free India.
  • The event marked the beginning of a nationwide, youth-led spiritual campaign against substance abuse, aiming to build a drug-free India by 2047.
Youth Spiritual Summit explained for UPSC

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SUMMIT

Overview :

  • Venue: Rudraksh International Convention Centre, Varanasi
  • Organised by: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
  • Participants: Over 600 youth leaders from 120+ spiritual and socio-cultural organisations, academicians, domain experts, and senior government representatives
  • Duration: Multi-day summit with 4 thematic plenary sessions

Summit Theme :

  • “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat” (Addiction-free Youth for a Developed India)
  • Emphasis on spiritual strength, youth leadership, and collective resolve in addressing the drug menace

ABOUT KASHI DECLARATION

  • The Kashi Declaration was adopted as the summit’s key outcome — a national-level action framework to fight drug addiction with cultural, institutional, and youth-driven solutions.

Key Features:

  • Holistic Understanding of Substance Abuse
    • Recognizes addiction as a complex public health and societal issue
    • Advocates for multi-sectoral coordination involving education, spirituality, technology, and healthcare
  • Institutional Mechanisms
    • Proposes a Joint National Committee for inter-ministerial coordination
    • Recommends annual progress reports and review mechanisms
    • Suggests a national digital platform to connect affected individuals with rehabilitation and support services.
  • Role of Spiritual Institutions
    • Spiritual and cultural bodies to act as pillars of the campaign
    • Community engagement through ashrams, gurukuls, temples, and faith-based youth networks
  • Grassroots Mobilisation
    • Under the MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) framework, youth clubs and volunteers will:
      • Organise pledge campaigns
      • Conduct awareness drives in schools, colleges, and villages
      • Facilitate rehabilitation and de-addiction support
  • Cultural Anchoring
      • Anchored in India’s civilisational and spiritual ethos
      • Reinforces Sanatan values of self-discipline, consciousness, and community service

KEY SPEECHES

Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports:

  • Described the declaration as a “Sankalp for national transformation”
  • Stated that the document is not merely symbolic, but a concrete roadmap for societal change
  • Emphasised that “spiritual institutions will serve as the backbone” of this Maha Abhiyan (mass movement)
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(Governor of Himachal Pradesh):

  • Called Kashi the “cradle of Sanatan Chetna”
  • Warned that a nation with 65% youth cannot afford to be enslaved by addiction
  • Stressed the importance of liberated and conscious youth in national development.
Long-Term Implementation and Accountability
  • The Kashi Declaration will serve as a guiding document for anti-drug efforts under the MY Bharat framework.
  • Its implementation will be reviewed at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, ensuring transparency and progress tracking.