YOUTH FIRST DELHI HALF MARATHON 2026

YOUTH FIRST DELHI HALF MARATHON 2026

About the Event

The Global Center for Social Dynamic Research (GCSDR) is organizing the “Youth First” World's Biggest Half Marathon on Mental Wellbeing of Youth. This mega event is being held to amplify awareness and initiate collective action, engaging people of all ages and communities, for youth wellbeing and empowerment. It forms a flagship event and integral part of our national campaign titled “YOUTH FIRST”.

Event Details

• Date: Sunday, 20 September 2026
• Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
• Distances & Categories:
  • 21.5Km
  • 10Km
  • 5Km
  • 3Km (Open Category/Fun Run)

Our Cause & Campaign

The Global Center for Social Dynamic Research (GCSDR) has launched a National Campaign for Youth Wellbeing and Empowerment. This campaign responds to the growing Mental-Health, Psychological, and Behavioral challenges faced by Children, Adolescents, and Youth across India due to changes in societal environment, family structure, and various other evolving factors.

This campaign is dedicated to saving young lives through a series of three-day workshops to be conducted Pan India in:

• Public Schools
• Govt. Schools
• Govt. Aided Schools
• Central Schools
• Navodaya Vidyalayas
• Army Public Schools
• UPSC/NEET/JEE Coaching Institutes
• Engineering Colleges/Medical Colleges/Colleges/Universities and other Institutions

These workshops will engage students, parents, and faculty to focus on addressing critical issues such as stress, anxiety, fear, loneliness, negative thought patterns, and increasing risk of suicidal tendencies among today’s school-going children and youth of Colleges and Institutions all over. The campaign emphasizes that Youth have to be the first, in every family, institution, society, and nation, over all priorities, understanding that when Youth smiles, so smiles the World.

Research & Background

The strength of this campaign is derived from research done by the founder of Youth First in the year 2024. Her Research Paper titled “Mental Health of Adolescents and Youth in India: A Critical Analysis in the Era of AI” has been widely acknowledged by the world community. She was invited by:

• The British Sociological Association to present a paper on social issues at the University of Manchester, UK in April 2025.
• The International Sociological Association at Rabat, Morocco in July 2025.
• UNESCO HQ at Paris, France on the occasion of World Engineering Day for 4th of March, 2026.

This research work will form part of the workshops conducted across India.