In a vibrant virtual celebration blending ambition with awareness, Odisha’s youth took centre stage at SOA University today for the My India Budget Quest 2026.
Jointly hosted by the Government of India and the Odisha Government, the event honoured 440 state winners and 25 bright minds from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, all of whom stood out in the nationwide My Bharat Budget Quest that drew over 1.2 million participants.
From fierce quizzes to insightful essay competitions, the national drive has already crowned 12,000 young leaders across India. Today’s gathering in Bhubaneswar turned these winners into torchbearers of a bigger mission: building economic consciousness and a sense of responsibility among the next generation.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, joining from Champua, hailed the programme as far more than an event — “it is a movement that is fostering financial literacy and accountability among our youth.” He stressed that most students graduate without basic knowledge of economics, banking, or fintech, leaving them unprepared for real-world challenges. “Programmes like My Bharat Budget Quest will change that by introducing them early to the financial system, fintech, and emerging technologies,” he declared.
Majhi painted an inspiring picture of Odisha’s youth-centric vision. He highlighted massive investments in the 2026-27 state budget: ₹1,359 crore for sports, ₹1,823 crore for skill development, and ₹1,895 crore for women’s empowerment. Plans are underway for world-class skill centres in Sambalpur and Brahmapur, with targeted training in IT, agri-tech, AI, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. “Our young people will not just be job-ready — they will lead the charge in a prosperous Odisha and a developed India,” he affirmed.
The Chief Minister also spotlighted Odisha’s rising global sports stature. The state will host the 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championship at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, and a bid is in for the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship. Schemes like PM Setu, CM-ASPIRE, Sudaksha, Utkarsh ITI, and Centres of Excellence are equipping youth with employability skills. On women’s empowerment, Majhi called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam a “historic step” that will further strengthen Indian democracy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his video message, underscored the government’s commitment to economic growth and youth empowerment on the path to Viksit Bharat. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya joined virtually, thanking the Prime Minister and emphasising that today’s youth hold the key to a developed India by 2047. He praised the My Bharat platform for shaping the future of the young generation through direct engagement with the national budget.
A lively question-and-answer session saw students Tejaswini Raj, Chandraprasad Panda, and Omprakash Rath quiz the Chief Minister on women’s roles in progress, the government’s sports focus, and the real-world impact of skill development. Majhi assured them that education, skilling, and sports remain the government’s top priorities, positioning Odisha’s youth to shine on the global stage.
The event was graced by Sports Commissioner and Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia, SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.K. Nand, and Bhubaneswar NSS Regional Director Sarita Patel.
As India races towards 2047, initiatives like My India Budget Quest 2026 are proving that when young minds understand budgets, they don’t just dream of a brighter future — they build it.
