The National Youth Day or Yuva Diwas is marked on January 12 in memory of the late Hindu seer Swami Vivekananda. It has been celebrated since 1984 with an aim to familiarise the youth of India about the teachings of Swami Vivekananda who was born in 1863 and was named Narendranath Datta. The day coincides with the famous monk's birthday.

"The thoughts and ideals of #SwamiVivekananda inspire and energise crores of Indians, particularly our youth. It is from him that we draw the motivation of building an India that is strong, vibrant, inclusive and an India that takes global leadership in several areas," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on the occasion.

"He personified the eternal energy of the youth and their restless quest for truth. It is entirely fitting that the government of India has declared 12th January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, as the National Youth Day. We must work to rekindle the eternal message of this great patriot and son of India," the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had stated on the importance of observing the special day at a function held on this day in 2013.

Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, believed that the youth can lead and sustain the historical culture of the country. He felt that the youth can resolve various problems that India is facing. “My hope of the future lies in the youths of character, intelligent, renouncing all for the service of others, and obedient – who can sacrifice their lives in working out my ideas and thereby do good to themselves and the country at large," Vivekananda had said.

Swami's speech at the first Parliament of the World's Religions in 1893 is renowned. He extolled the ancient philosophy of Hinduism but with logic and scientific insight.

A month-long celebration has been planned by the Jharkhand government on the occasion of the Yuva Diwas. Debate, quiz, painting and other activities will be held.Chief minister Raghubar Das and others will unveil a bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda on an islet of Ranchi Lake. Measuring 33 feet in height, it is said to be the tallest statue of Swami Vivekananda.

In Hyderabad, National Youth Day will be celebrated with the theme of 'Channelizing Youth Power for Nation Building'. The event is organised by the Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence. The programme will begin by garlanding Swami Vivekananda statue on the Tank Bund, followed by a rally of youth and school children to the Ramakrishna Math Campus, where they will be provided with mini lunch and books of value building.

In Mysuru, nearly 1,500 students from various schools along with teachers will pay floral tribute at Swami Vivekananda's statue at Cheluvamba Park along with the members of Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education (RIMSE).

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor Satya Pal Malik has greeted the people on the occasion. In his message he appealed to the youth of the state to seek inspiration from great thinkers and philosophers, who worked selflessly for the nation.