YLAC

Young Leaders for Active Citizenship: Sensitizing young people to their social context and building their capacity to lead change in society.

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

This was inspired by our colleague, Rishika Arora’s presentation, which sparked our curiosity about the many ways Indian democracy continues to take shape.

#ylac #history #politics #elections #governance #civics #policy #democracy #electionsymbol #diversity #India #colonialism

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

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.

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

The Peculiarity of Indian Democracy lies in how it began and how it continues to adapt.

A system shaped by diversity, inequality and constant negotiation.

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re proud to celebrate our colleague @nipunmalhotra for receiving the National Award for Individual Excellence from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities!

Nipun’s work has reshaped how India thinks about disability inclusion — across the public sector, private sector and society at large. Over the past decade, he has helped shift policies, build programmes and change narratives by operationalising what many now recognise as the core of inclusion: changing attitudes, expanding accessibility and improving affordability.

At YLAC and @tqh_policy, our disability-inclusion work is strengthened by the systems perspective Nipun brings from years of shaping the broader ecosystem. His experience spans working with governments—such as advising @NITIAayog to advance rights-based accessibility—and partnering with industry, including efforts through the Equal Opportunity Awards to embed inclusion into workplace practice. He has also shifted public narratives through initiatives like @zomato's accessibility filters and collaborations with cultural institutions. This grounding in how policy, markets and social attitudes interact informs the way he leads our work—socialising disability policy through AccessPoint, enabling greater agency in debates on DPDP, shaping the State of Disability in India Report, and nurturing future leaders through the Breaking Barriers Fellowship.
This award honours all that work and more! The visible wins and the quieter hours that go into shifting systems, culture and policy. And on a day meant to remind us how much inclusion still needs to grow, Nipun’s journey is a reminder that progress is possible when someone refuses to settle for less.

@socialpwds

Video source: https://t.co/qpZSo80KUA
#InternationalDayOfPersonswithDisabilities #Inclusion #DisabilityRights

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

We’re hiring!

Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) is expanding its team and inviting applications for full-time roles based in Delhi:

🔹 Senior Officer (4-6 years work experience)
🔹 Officer (2-4 years work experience)

These roles are well suited for individuals who enjoy working at the intersection of education, public policy and civic action. We’re looking for people who take initiative, think strategically, work collaboratively, and care deeply about strengthening democratic values and public leadership.

What you can expect:
• Meaningful, mission-driven work
• Collaboration with a sharp, motivated team
• Opportunities to design and lead high-impact programs
• Travel to cities across India, as required

If you’re motivated to strengthen civic participation and help build better outcomes for young changemakers, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now: https://t.co/OppAWcR2LD

Feel free to share this with someone who may be a strong fit — or consider applying yourself.

#hiring

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

It was great to have @TennetiKrshnaMP have with us today for the YLAC Policy in Action program Delhi. Our fellows enjoyed learning about his time as an IPS officer and his transition to political life. The most valuable lessons in public policy come from experiences of those who are in the thick of it, thank you for spending time with us today sir!

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

YLAC Alumni Meetups are here!

Across cities, our alumni are coming together — to reconnect, collaborate, and build community beyond the program. Whether you want to swap ideas, start something new, or just find your people, this is your space.

🌆 Join an alumni meetup in your city!

🔗 Register through the form here - https://t.co/pJdc8E4YrI

📍 Don’t see a meetup in your city? Host one with us! Write to us at [email protected] to volunteer.

Let’s keep the spirit of YLAC alive — wherever we are!

#YLAC #YLACAlumni #CommunityofChangemakers

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

In a recent article for @CNBCTV18Live , our co-founder, @rohitkr_RK and Mihika Chanchani, Senior Partnerships Consultant, India, at @givingtuesdayin highlight how young Indians are redefining the meaning of citizenship through everyday generosity, initiative and action on the ground.

Key takeaways include:

🔹A growing culture of action - Young people are organising relief efforts, teaching locally, building support systems and mobilising resources even without formal platforms or recognition

🔹A missing ecosystem - Despite this momentum, youth-led giving remains largely informal and under-recognised, with limited access to funding, mentorship or institutional platforms

🔹The need for trust and investment - To sustain and scale this energy, young leaders require structures support, civic spaces, micro-grants and public recognition that legitimises their contribution

Read the full article here: https://t.co/lX7ztKozd3

[Aparajita Bharti @BhartiAparajita]

Today marks an exciting milestone in the journey of @ylacofficial and @tqh_policy ! We’re thrilled to celebrate the elevation of our three long-standing colleagues and teammates, each of whom has been integral to our work over the past several years. @shipra_baduni is stepping into the role of CEO of YLAC, @SumeyshS and @GuhaDeepro are joining @rohitkr_RK and me as partners in TQH.

We started @ylacofficial in 2016 as a 21-day bootcamp, driven purely by the belief that young people should be more engaged in India’s democracy. Shipra’s elevation now feels like a full-circle moment. We first met her at the YLAC Policy in Action Program in Delhi in 2019, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see a YLAC alumna now take over the mantle! Even during the program, her self-assuredness, sharp questions, and poise stood out. She joined our team in October 2020, and since then has been a pillar of strength - helping build a culture of both sharp execution and deep empathy, while working alongside us to shape new priorities and interventions.

@tqh_policy was founded towards the end of 2017. Deepro and Sumeysh joined us during the pandemic, when our team was just 10-15 people. Since then, they have helmed numerous projects - leading research and advocacy on tech, telecom, and social policy, building and nurturing long-term relationships, and shaping the organisation’s culture. Along the way, they’ve developed their own expertise and leadership styles. Their partnership has been invaluable in getting us to where we are today, and we’re thrilled to have their support as we grow TQH’s work further.

Personally, it feels incredibly rewarding for @rohitkr_RK and I to have reached this milestone where our leadership team has emerged from within. We are fortunate to have people we trust and respect deeply, and with whom we have shared this journey over many years. All of us together, look forward to deepening our impact, and continuing our work with the same commitment that has guided us thus far.

We are deeply grateful to our colleagues, partners, and the wider community that continues to support our journey. Please join us in celebrating Deepro, Sumeysh, and Shipra, and wishing them every success as they step into these exciting new roles!

[The Quantum Hub @tqh_policy]

Making India the Choice, not a Compulsion

In today’s Hindu @businessline, @tqh_policy and @ylacofficial founders @BhartiAparajita and @rohitkr_RK argue that if we want talent to stay back by conviction, not compulsion, we must act decisively.

They call for a bold reform agenda that empowers local governments to fix broken cities, strengthens universities through serious investment in research and faculty, deepens entrepreneurial ecosystems by removing everyday barriers, and positions India strategically in global value chains.

India’s young demographic and fast-growing economy hold immense promise - but promise alone won’t keep talent home. As the article reminds us: young Indians must not just find opportunities abroad, they must find a reason to dream here.

👉 Read the full piece: https://t.co/v9KFFakVZn

#h1bvisa #India

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

We’re delighted to have our co-founder @BhartiAparajita contribute to The Policy Pivot book being launched by @PAFIIndia and published by @juggernautbooks .

The book brings together 25 powerful essays from leading policy voices that uncover the forces transforming India’s society, economy, diplomacy and future.

Aparajita’s book chapter “The Missing Seat at the Table: Engaging India’s Youth in Policymaking—An Imperative for Viksit Bharat”, outlines actionable ways to ensure the future is shaped with young people, not for them.

Aligned to YLAC’s vision, she proposes:
🔹 Mandatory youth consultations for policies that affect education, employment, climate and technology
🔹 Structured internships and fellowships in ministries, legislatures and research bodies to build real pathways for influence
🔹 Youth advisory councils at local and national levels, with representation from diverse socioeconomic, regional, and gendered backgrounds
🔹 Digital engagement tools and participatory platforms that turn feedback into real policy inputs
🔹 Stronger data and audits to track youth participation and inclusion across institutions
🔹 Civil society partnerships to engage young people in solutioning for emerging societal challenges

Aparajita’s vision is clear: young people should help shape the policies that shape their future.

It’s an honour to be featured alongside @HardeepSPuri | @shashankmaniofc | @Ajaybis | @amitabhk87 | @AshokAkaybee | @AshishDhawanTCF | @laveeshbhandari | @LuisMirandaDots | @navdeepsuri | @RajivKumar1 | @RichardRossow | @tkarun | @vijai63 | @NandanNilekani

Pre-order the book here: https://t.co/PaONwMCrwf

#ThePolicyPivot #YLAC #PAFIAnnualForum #PolicyFor2047 #BookLaunch #PAFI2025 #Policy #PublicPolicy #YouthInPolicy

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

@rohitkr_RK @BhartiAparajita @Janaagraha1 @DrSYQuraishi @Prajafoundation @Memeghnad @PRSLegislative @adrspeaks @PRIA_India

#LocalElectionDelays #Democracy #Voting

[YLAC @ylacofficial]

Across India - from the richest municipalities like BMC, MCD, and BBMP to thousands of panchayats in Rajasthan, Telangana, and beyond - citizens are shut out as administrators run local bodies, weakening service delivery and undermining representation.

It doesn’t have to be this way - citizens must demand timely local elections and make them a priority, because only when we value this right will it truly be upheld.

Democracy Cannot Wait, and Neither Should You!

For a deeper dive, check out Janaagraha’s (@janaagraha1) ‘Delays in Urban Local Government Elections in India: Analysis and Reform Pathways’ report.

Link: https://t.co/Buz7ZeM1AT

🧵🧵

#localelection #mcdelections #delhi #mumbai #bangalore