Youth Spiritual Summit Adopts Kashi Declaration | 22 Jul 2025

Why in News? 

The Youth Spiritual Summit held at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre in Varanasi concluded with the formal adoption of the Kashi Declaration, marking a significant milestone in India's journey towards a drug-free society by 2047.  

About Youth Spiritual Summit 

• Summit Overview:  
  • The summit, organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, brought together over 600 youth leaders and representatives from 120 spiritual and socio-cultural organizations.  
  • The summit provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the psychological and societal impacts of drug abuse, the mechanics of drug trafficking, and strategies for grassroots awareness. 
  • Four plenary sessions were conducted, culminating in the Kashi Declaration. Key themes discussed during the sessions include: 
    • The psychological impacts of addiction. 
    • Understanding the drug supply chains and trafficking mechanisms. 
    • Effective grassroots campaigns for drug awareness. 
    • The role of spiritual and cultural institutions in rehabilitation. 
• The Kashi Declaration: 
  • The Kashi Declaration reflects the consensus to tackle drug abuse as a public health crisis and societal challenge. 
  • It calls for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, integrating efforts from spiritual, educational, and technological sectors. 
  • The declaration proposes the establishment of a Joint National Committee for multi-ministerial coordination, ensuring accountability and progress tracking. 
  • The Declaration also calls for annual progress reports and a national platform to connect individuals struggling with addiction to support services. 
• Youth-Led Campaigns and MY Bharat Framework: 
  • MY Bharat will take the lead in mobilizing youth-led efforts to combat drug abuse across the nation.  
    • Youth clubs and volunteers affiliated with MY Bharat will spearhead awareness drives, pledge campaigns, and community outreach efforts, ensuring the sustainability of this movement. 
  • The Kashi Declaration will serve as the guiding document, directing the efforts of youth groups and policymakers, and will be reviewed during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 for progress and accountability.