Centre for Escalation of Peace (CEP), Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies (RIGSS), India-Bhutan Foundation (IBF), and Pallavan Learning Systems (PLS) successfully organised the 4th India-Bhutan Youth Summit from October 22–30, 2025.
The broad theme for the 2025 Summit was “Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) and the Neighbourhood.” 22 Participants from India and Bhutan came together in the Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam, and in the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing, for a nine-day programme combining exposure, learning, and adventure. The itinerary included an introduction to both countries, a three-day trek across the scenic landscapes of Shillong, interactive sessions on the summit theme, and meetings with eminent personalities from India and Bhutan. Participants also visited significant sites and interacted with local communities to deepen their understanding of the countries and their shared aspirations.
Participants also experienced aspects of college life in both India and Bhutan, hosted respectively by the Royal Global University (Assam) and the College of Science and Technology (Phuentsholing). During the programme, they had the opportunity to interact with distinguished leaders including Mr. Sabyasachi Dutta, Director of Asian Confluence; Dr. A.K. Buragohain, Vice Chancellor of Royal Global University; Dasho Chewang Rinzin, Vice Chancellor of the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB); and Mr. Rabsel Dorji, Chief of Communications at the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).
Both structured sessions and informal exchanges during the summit inspired participants to identify potential collaborative themes for future engagement. They collectively developed project proposals across five key areas — Environment, Education, Community, Digital Forum, and Gender — aligning their contributions with their individual skills, knowledge, and interests.
The 4th India-Bhutan Youth Summit concluded with a renewed commitment to fostering cross-border friendships and nurturing a growing community of youth ambassadors dedicated to strengthen ing India-Bhutan relations.
