YLAC - Young Leaders for Active Citizenship

YLAC - Young Leaders for Active Citizenship ‘Young Leaders for Active Citizenship’ (YLAC) sensitizes young people to their social context and bui Baijayant Panda (MP, Lok Sabha) and Prof.
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YLAC programs take students outside the realm of what is conventionally taught in schools and universities. Our modules are designed to enable participants to develop a better understanding of the society they live in and the challenges that it confronts. The aim is to help participants broaden their perspective, draw connections across disciplines, hone their leadership styles and put learning in

to action by engaging in live projects. Our teaching methods are not the usual chalk and duster lectures; we use role-plays, group exercises, peer evaluations, videos and games to make the classroom come alive. YLAC was founded by Rohit Kumar (Alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School of Government) and Aparajita Bharti (Alumna of Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University). Our Board of Advisors includes Dr. Shashi Tharoor (MP, Lok Sabha), Mr. Michael Walton (Harvard University).

Last week, YLAC brought the High School Achievers Program to Kolkata for its first-ever in-person edition there! 35 stud...
09/06/2026

Last week, YLAC brought the High School Achievers Program to Kolkata for its first-ever in-person edition there!

35 students from different schools and backgrounds spent the week navigating simulations, role plays, debates, and collaborative activities as they explored questions of identity, inequality, governance, leadership, and social change.

The week also included a field visit to , a partner of , where students engaged with questions of inclusion and education beyond the classroom. Conversations with , ( ), .vinay ( ), and ( ) offered students a glimpse into the many different ways people create change in the world around them.

A huge thank you to our students, speakers, partners, and everyone who helped make HSA Kolkata’s first offline edition such a memorable one.

This World Environment Day, we’re turning to poetry. Across centuries, writers found meaning in the predictable rhythms ...
05/06/2026

This World Environment Day, we’re turning to poetry.

Across centuries, writers found meaning in the predictable rhythms of summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. As those rhythms become harder to recognise, their words invite us to reflect on what is changing. And what we stand to lose.

What does active citizenship look like in the digital age? As our lives move online, public infrastructure is no longer ...
04/06/2026

What does active citizenship look like in the digital age?

As our lives move online, public infrastructure is no longer limited to roads and bridges. It also includes exam portals, databases, and digital services.

Through the story of a 19-year-old who reported vulnerabilities in a CBSE portal, we explore how active citizenship is evolving in the digital age.

What happens when you put a room full of people together and ask them to become a railway station, a frozen photograph, ...
03/06/2026

What happens when you put a room full of people together and ask them to become a railway station, a frozen photograph, or a character they’ve never met before?

A lot of laughter. A little chaos. And some surprisingly powerful storytelling.

Through body movement, improvisation, image theatre, and conversations around Theatre of the Oppressed, we explored how stories are created, challenged, and transformed. We reflected on how emotions live in our bodies, how perspective shapes narratives, and how collective storytelling can open up new ways of understanding the world around us.

Led by our colleagues .chouhan and Srishti, the workshop was also a reminder of why these practices matter. At Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC), our work is rooted in listening, facilitating dialogue and creating spaces where people can engage with different perspectives. Theatre offers another way into that work–helping us pay attention, build empathy and imagine possibilities together.

An evening of movement, curiosity and a reminder that some of the most meaningful learning happens when we step into someone else’s story.

What’s it like hosting at The Policy Square? Whether it’s a panel discussion, strategy session, workshop or closed-door ...
01/06/2026

What’s it like hosting at The Policy Square?

Whether it’s a panel discussion, strategy session, workshop or closed-door conversation, our spaces are equipped to support ideas in motion.

But the best way to understand the experience? Hear directly from the people who’ve hosted with us.

You can find details on facilities, pricing, and more using the link in our bio.

For any queries, drop us a line at [email protected]

As part of the midpoint convening of the Breaking Barriers Fellowship, we came together with stakeholders from across ce...
29/05/2026

As part of the midpoint convening of the Breaking Barriers Fellowship, we came together with stakeholders from across central and state governments, civil society, and the private sector for a closed-door dialogue on disability inclusion. The convening was brought together by Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) in collaboration with , and the ‘s

The day began with a roundtable on financial inclusion for persons with disabilities, covering taxation, insurance, and access to financial systems. This was followed by insights from the Breaking Barriers Fellows, grounding the discussion in ongoing work within public systems. The convening culminated in The Ability Dialogues 7.0: Bridging Systems for UDID Implementation, focused on strengthening the UDID system—a critical step towards building a unified disability identity infrastructure.

With representation from across states including Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Rajasthan, Delhi, West Bengal, UT of Chandigarh, and Karnataka among others the discussion brought together central and state governments with ecosystem partners to surface bottlenecks, bright spots, and pathways for collaboration, including learnings from adjacent sectors such as inclusive education.

We are especially grateful to Smt. Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Additional Secretary, DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, for her leadership and for spending the day with us, guiding and enriching the discussions.

Meet Devina Sikdar, YLAC’s Policy in Action (2021) alumna. Devina is a forensic scientist working at the intersection of...
27/05/2026

Meet Devina Sikdar, YLAC’s Policy in Action (2021) alumna.

Devina is a forensic scientist working at the intersection of science, law and public policy. Her journey began with a curiosity about how forensic science functions within India’s criminal justice system. Over time, this evolved into a commitment to preventing miscarriages of justice caused by flawed evidence handling and systemic gaps.

Today, her work spans forensic science research, policy and police training, helping strengthen how evidence is understood and used in India.

Youth on the Move celebrates YLAC alumni who don’t just participate but step forward and act.

Can sports like football become a language for belonging? A way for cities, strangers and countries to feel connected, e...
25/05/2026

Can sports like football become a language for belonging? A way for cities, strangers and countries to feel connected, even if for only ninety minutes?

On World Football Day, we look at how football has shaped identity, community and the stories people tell about themselves.

That’s the kind of everyday history Civics IRL uncovers, revealing how power and politics shape the things we use everyday.

Assistive Technology can open doors. But inclusion does not stop at technology alone. On Global Accessibility Awareness ...
21/05/2026

Assistive Technology can open doors. But inclusion does not stop at technology alone. On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we are reflecting on what true accessibility really requires.

Recently, YLAC’s Breaking Barriers Fellow, Ish*ta Kalra, presented her paper “The Impact of Assistive Technology on Educational Outcomes of Diverse Students with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities” at Building Bridges for Inclusivity – ICBBI 2026, organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).

Drawing from conversations with 50 Indian parents and caregivers, the study asks an important question: what happens when the tools exist, but the systems around them do not?

Swipe to explore.

The Breaking Barriers fellowship is a joint initiative by YLAC and the Nipman Foundation - supported by the - that places young professionals within the and its leading national institutions.

How does a country with hundreds of languages, deep social hierarchies, mass illiteracy and colonial trauma decide that ...
20/05/2026

How does a country with hundreds of languages, deep social hierarchies, mass illiteracy and colonial trauma decide that everyone deserves an equal voice?

The Peculiarity of Indian Democracy lies in this impossible ambition.

From election symbols to multilingualism to reservations, this post explores the unusual choices that shaped democracy in India into something far more complex than just a political system.

Sparked by our colleague and YLAC Alumna, fascination on what makes India’s democracy so distinct.

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