RGNUL Hosts 17th National Youth Parliament, Celebrating Democratic Values And Student Leadership

The Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, hosted the 17th National Youth Parliament Competition for Universities and Colleges on 30^th April 2025 under the aegis of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India.

It was inaugurated by Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi, Member of Parliament, Dr. Shalini Sharma, Group Coordinator of Youth Parliament at the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Prof. Monika Ahuja, Punjabi University.

In his address, Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi emphasised the role of federalism in maintaining unity in the country as culturally and linguistically diverse as India. Dr. Gandhi stated that the Constitution of India is unique in various respects. The Constitution fore-fathers chose the federal features for the Indian Constitution, though the federal features were attuned with the Indian conditions, then existing and the need for maintaining unity and integrity of the country. Dr. Gandhi emphasized that in a country which has different cultural, religious, linguistic and racial identities, federalism is the best solution for the country's problems. He stated that people of India and states submerged their regional, linguistic identities to make India, therefore, the States should be given adequate importance under the Indian constitutional scheme. He emphasized Unity in Diversity and said that Indian diversity is very important. He also spoke passionately about women empowerment, describing it as the cornerstone of a progressive and inclusive society. Dr. Gandhi encouraged students to actively participate in democratic discourse and uphold constitutional values. Stressing the significance of procedural formalities in a democratic setup, he noted that adherence to due process is essential for upholding justice and institutional integrity. He further called for a humanitarian approach to addressing violence and conflict. Encouraging students to engage meaningfully in democratic discourse and uphold constitutional values, Dr. Gandhi reminded the audience that the students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Prof. (Dr.) Jai S. Singh, Vice Chancellor, RGNUL, highlighted that the event is aimed at fostering democratic values and encouraging parliamentary engagement among the youth. The event is aimed at reaffirming the commitment to foster democratic values, encourage civic responsibilities, uphold unity and promote a culture of debate and discourse among India's youth.

Dr. Shalini Sharma, Group Coordinator of Youth Parliament at the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, emphasised the religious, cultural and linguistic diversity of the country. She highlighted that the students are the leaders of tomorrow and therefore, there is a need to nurture as the future leaders.

Dr. Manoj Sharma, Faculty Coordinator of the event, highlighted the history and origin of the youth parliament initiative. He stated that the competition has been introduced by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to familiarize students with the functioning of the parliamentary democracy. He highlighted how such platforms help young minds understand legislative procedures, develop leadership skills and imbibe a deep respect for democratic instinct. He also emphasized that there is a need to develop democratic values among students. He stated that the competitions like this inculcate the democratic values and the tolerance for the views of the opposition.

Prof. (Dr.) Monika Ahuja, speaking on the occasion, congratulated the University for organizing such competitions. She encouraged the students to foster democratic values in their routine. She said that in a pluralistic society like India, tolerance and respect for democratic values are the keys for India's success.

The competition featured simulated parliamentary sessions where students showcased their oratorical abilities, critical thinking and understanding of legislative procedures. Participants engaged on a range of pressing national issues including National Education Policy, Pahalgam killings, Women reservation etc. Students displayed impressive command over procedure, policy and perspective.

The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony where the top five (5) speakers were honoured for their outstanding performance. Their speeches were lauded for clarity, persuasion and depth of analysis. The top five (5) students Kunal Yadav, Pranav Chadha, Rudraksh Singh Sisodia, Prahlad, Aarsh Sabharwal, Deepak Jain will be awarded certificates by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India.