BJP MLA Rajeshwar proposes youth advisory council for Gen Z
Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Rajeshwar Singh has proposed the creation of a youth advisory council at the State and the national level to enable the new generation, especially the Gen Zs, to become an integral part of policymaking in specific subjects of education, AI, competitive exams and startups, among others.
The four-page letter by Singh, a former Enforcement Directorate officer, was sent to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday. It comes in the backdrop of the nationwide Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protests, largely led by Gen Z students, following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case that led to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union Education Minister.
Rajeshwar Singh was an ace investigator of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and a police officer of Uttar Pradesh. He was the Investigating Officer of high-profile cases like the 2G Scam and several anti-money laundering cases. He left the service and joined the BJP in 2022 and became MLA from Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow. According to the legislator, the proposed Youth Advisory Council would function like the advisory council of experts to the prime minister. They would act as police makers on subjects like youth employment, education, Artificial Intelligence, competitive examinations, and the digital economy. “The next phase of governance should empower young people not merely as beneficiaries of Government programmes but as active partners in shaping public policy,” the letter stated,
“The proposed council will enable youth to share their ideas, aspirations and experiences becomes an integral part of policy-making,” Singh, the MLA from the Sarojini Nagar assembly seat of Lucknow, said. He argued that “rapid” changes driven by AI, technological disruption, competitive examinations, evolving labour markets, entrepreneurship, mental health challenges and the digital economy require Governments to maintain continuous engagement with young citizens rather than relying on “occasional” consultations.
Singh suggested that young members between 18 and 35 years of age should be selected to the proposed council through a transparent process. He said the proposed council should target students and youngsters who have prepared for UPSC and UPPSC exams, top performers in IIT-JEE and NEET, students and alumni of IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and NLUs, and other leading global universities, young scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators, sportspersons, farmers and representatives from aspirational districts with at least 40 per cent representation from women.
“The council can be asked to submit regular ‘Youth Pulse Reports’ to the policy-makers, providing evidence-based recommendations on employment, education, recruitment reforms, skill development, startups, mental health, sports, digital safety and AI,” he stated.
“The greatest strength of any developed nation is its young people. Governments become more responsive, innovative and future-ready when youth are treated not merely as beneficiaries but as partners in policymaking, and participatory governance is one of the strongest foundations of a vibrant democracy,” the MLA added.
He said once this proposal is implemented in UP, the state would become the first in India to institutionalise a CM-led Youth Advisory Council, creating a governance model that could be replicated across the country.
