AMRITSAR: Parul Prashar, a distinguished student of B.Tech (Computer Engineering & Technology) at Guru Nanak Dev University, represented Punjab at the National Youth Festival 2025 and the Viksit Bharat Young Leader's Dialogue 2025. Her selection was a testament to her exceptional skills, having successfully navigated a rigorous five-stage evaluation process encompassing a quiz, essay submission, a presentation on the theme "Tech for Viksit Bharat", and an interview conducted by Sir Tushar Gupta, a professional appointed by the Central Government.
The events took place at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi, where Parul was one of 67 participants representing Punjab. Among her notable experiences during the festival, Parul had the honor of sharing lunch with esteemed personalities including Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Mrs. Lakshmi Puri, former Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations. Their engaging discussions focused on government education institutions and women's status in society, with participants being gifted autographed books by Mrs. Puri. Parul presented her ideas in front of Mr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, showcasing her leadership and speaking abilities.
The following day, she participated in questioning sessions hosted by Pratayush Kumar, founder of Sarvam AI, and witnessed a live discussion between Sir Anand Mahindra and news editor Mam Palki Sharma. Furthermore, she had the opportunity to interact with notable entrepreneurs such as Ritesh Agarwal, founder of OYO, and Aman Gupta, co-founder of BOAT. A remarkable highlight of Parul's experience was being granted a VVIP pass to the Prime Minister's Gallery, sitting next to the honorable Prime Minister of India. She also engaged in conversation with Dr. S. Somnath, former ISRO Chairman, an honor bestowed upon only 50 participants out of a pool of 3, 000. Following her success at the National Youth Festival, Parul received a reinvitation from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to attend the *Leadership Conclave 2025*.
This exclusive event saw the participation of only 200 selected individuals, further emphasizing her achievements. Organized by the School of Ultimate Leadership, a visionary initiative led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and managed by Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, former IAS and Finance Secretary, the conclave included an interactive session with eminent personalities such as: Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India; H.E. Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways and Information and Broadcasting; Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman of Bharti Enterprises; Mr. Ajay Piramal, Chairman of the Piramal Group and many more notable leaders from various sectors.