The year 1985 has been proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Youth Year (IYY) with the theme "Participation, Development and Peace". The objective is to focus worldwide attention on the needs of young people and to give recognition to the vital role which they can play in the creation of a more just and peaceful world.

In India, the year 1985 is being observed as the "Year of Youth". The year was launched by  the Prime Minister on. 12th January, the birth day of Swami Vivekananda, which will henceforth be observed every year  as the National  Youth  Day.

A large number of programmes benefiting the youth have been and are being organised in the country at various levels with the specific objective of securing their participation in development activities contributing to  building up their character and personality and promoting peace.

As part of such activities, the university students youth festival, which used to be organised in the sixties, but was given up then, has been revived. Four zonal inter-university cultural festivals have been organised through the Association of Indian Universities and as a culmination, the successful teams  from the zonal festivals participated in the NAM Youth Cultural Festival on 6th November, 1985, when students from Non-Aligned Movement also participated to celebrate the IYY. The theme of IYY, namely, "Participation, Development and Peace" are equally apt in the case of NAM.

The release of a stamp on this occasion is, therefore, significant and is a part of the commemorative activity of the Government of India of this 'Year of Youth'.

The Department of Posts is happy to issue a special postage stamp on the occasion of International Youth Year.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India