Vice-President MP LEAD Fellows interaction at Uprashtrapati Bhavan focused on ethical leadership, national unity and constitutional values, as Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan urged young participants to place service above authority and contribute to nation-building.
NEW DELHI, July 2: Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan on Thursday interacted with participants of the MP LEAD Fellowship at Uprashtrapati Bhavan and called on young people to become ethical leaders committed to public service.
The two-month internship programme was initiated by Rajya Sabha Member Dr Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade. It provides young people with first-hand exposure to governance, public policy and legislative processes.
Addressing the fellows, the Vice-President said leadership should not be measured by authority, but by the ability to serve society with humility, integrity and compassion. He urged the participants to build their public lives on responsibility, discipline and national commitment.
Shri Radhakrishnan also placed strong emphasis on national unity. He said young citizens must rise above region, language and caste, and place the country first in their decisions and aspirations.
Referring to India’s civilisational continuity, the Vice-President said, “Bharat was one, Bharat is one and Bharat will always remain one.” He said India’s shared cultural heritage, from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, had long acted as a unifying force.
The Vice-President asked the fellows to understand the sacrifices and hardships endured by earlier generations. He recalled India’s journey from the food shortages of the 1960s to its emergence as one of the world’s major foodgrain exporters.
He said this transformation should inspire young Indians to value the country’s development journey and contribute to its next phase. He encouraged the fellows to combine ambition with service, and opportunity with merit.
Describing the fellowship as a meaningful platform for young citizens, Shri Radhakrishnan said such programmes expose students and early-career professionals to realities beyond classrooms. He said they build confidence and offer opportunities to interact with national leaders and institutions.
The Vice-President underlined that opportunities must be matched by continuous self-improvement. He asked the fellows to strive for excellence and contribute their best to nation-building.
Expressing confidence in the participants, Shri Radhakrishnan said many among them could go on to hold positions of responsibility in public life, administration and the judiciary. He encouraged them to dream big while remaining anchored in national service.
“Who knows, one of you may also be holding the position of the Vice-President of India,” he said, inspiring the fellows to pursue public life with dedication and integrity.
The Vice-President also spoke about the importance of constitutional values. He said democracy flourishes when citizens uphold their duties along with their rights.
He urged the fellows to learn with curiosity, innovate fearlessly and remain committed to the larger national interest. He said youth-led commitment would be central to building a developed and self-reliant India.
The MP LEAD Fellowship has selected 40 fellows from over 5,000 [CONFIRM: applications/applicants]. The programme is designed to help young participants understand governance, public policy and legislative work through direct institutional exposure.
The interaction highlighted the role of structured youth fellowships in widening access to public policy learning. It also reinforced the Vice-President’s message that future leadership must rest on service, unity and constitutional responsibility.
Source: PIB
