Youth Hostel Scheme
The Youth Hostel Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports builds and runs youth hostels across India to give travelling youth, students and tourists clean, low-cost dormitory and room accommodation. Hostels are jointly funded by the Centre and the state, which provides the land, and are open to travellers for short stays booked directly with the hostel.
| Ministry | Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports |
|---|---|
| Benefit | Low-cost dormitory and room accommodation for travelling youth and students |
| Maximum benefit | Subsidised accommodation (no cash benefit) |
| Application mode | Direct booking with the youth hostel; no cash application |
| Helpline | Contact the individual youth hostel or the state Department of Youth Affairs |
| Official website | https://yas.gov.in/ |
What is the Youth Hostel Scheme?
The Youth Hostel Scheme is a programme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under which the Government of India builds and runs youth hostels across the country. The purpose of a youth hostel is to give young travellers, students and tourists a place to stay that is clean, safe and inexpensive, so that limited money is not a barrier to travelling, seeing the country and taking part in youth activities. Encouraging youth travel is treated as a way to build national integration and understanding among young people from different parts of India.
The scheme is an infrastructure and accommodation scheme rather than a cash-benefit scheme. Its output is the network of hostels themselves and the low-cost lodging they offer, not a payment into anyone's bank account. That distinction matters, because it means there is no scholarship, subsidy transfer or online benefit form to apply for as an individual.
What the scheme is trying to do
- Provide budget accommodation to travelling youth and students at rates far below commercial hotels.
- Promote domestic youth travel, tourism and national integration.
- Create a permanent network of hostels in cities, towns and places of interest through central funding and state land.
How is the Youth Hostel Scheme funded and run?
The Youth Hostel Scheme works on a central-state partnership. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports provides central funds for construction, while the concerned state government provides developed land, free of cost, and generally takes responsibility for running and maintaining the hostel once it is built. Day-to-day management, room allotment and upkeep therefore usually rest with the state youth department or the agency it designates.
Because responsibility is shared this way, the specific room categories, tariffs and house rules can differ from one hostel to another and from state to state. For current rates and availability at a particular hostel, the reliable source is that hostel or the state Department of Youth Affairs, not a single nationwide price list.
Who is eligible to stay in a youth hostel?
Youth hostels are meant for:
- Travelling young people and students on tour, study trips or personal travel.
- Tourists and other travellers needing short-stay, low-cost lodging.
Priority is generally given to young and student travellers, in keeping with the purpose of the scheme. Stays are meant to be short; hostels are not intended for long-term or permanent residence.
Who cannot use the scheme as a personal grant: no one can apply for a cash benefit under this scheme, because it does not pay money to individuals. A person also cannot apply to have a youth hostel constructed in their locality on their own initiative; new hostels come from state government proposals to the Ministry, based on land availability and demonstrated need, not from individual requests.
How to apply for a youth hostel stay
Since the benefit is accommodation rather than cash, "applying" simply means booking a bed or room. The general route is:
- Identify the youth hostel you want to stay at from the list maintained by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports or the relevant state Department of Youth Affairs.
- Contact the hostel or state youth department to check availability and the current tariff for your travel dates, and to confirm any priority given to students or members.
- Reserve your stay as instructed by that hostel, providing your travel details and the number of guests.
- Carry a valid photo identity proof — and a student or youth identity card if you are claiming a concessional rate: to show at check-in.
What documents do you need?
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photo identity proof | Yes | Aadhaar, passport, driving licence or similar, shown at check-in |
| Student / youth identity card | No | Useful where concessional student or member rates apply |
Who runs the scheme and where to get help
The Youth Hostel Scheme is administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, with state governments managing individual hostels. There is no single national booking helpline for the scheme; the correct contact for a stay is the individual youth hostel or the state Department of Youth Affairs that runs it. Details of the scheme are published by the Ministry at yas.gov.in.
Because tariffs, room types and booking methods vary by hostel and change over time, treat any specific rate you see quoted elsewhere with caution and confirm it with the hostel directly before you travel.
Documents required
Frequently asked questions
Who can stay in a government youth hostel?
Youth hostels are aimed at travelling young people, students and tourists, who can stay for short periods at low, subsidised rates. Facilities are typically shared dormitories and simple rooms, and priority is generally given to youth and student travellers over general tourists.
How do I book a youth hostel?
Booking is done directly with the individual youth hostel or through the state Department of Youth Affairs that manages it, rather than through a single national cash-benefit form. Contact details for each hostel are available from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the state youth department.
Is there a cash benefit under the Youth Hostel Scheme?
No. The Youth Hostel Scheme is an infrastructure and accommodation scheme, not a cash-transfer scheme. The benefit to a traveller is affordable lodging, not money, so there is no bank transfer or scholarship to apply for.
Who builds and funds youth hostels?
Youth hostels are built with central funding from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, while the state government provides developed land free of cost and usually maintains the hostel. This central-state sharing is the core of the scheme.
What facilities do youth hostels provide?
A youth hostel typically provides dormitory beds and a few rooms, common washing and dining facilities, and a warden or manager on site. The idea is safe, clean and inexpensive lodging for travellers rather than hotel-style comfort.
Can an individual apply to get a youth hostel built in their town?
No. An individual cannot apply for construction of a youth hostel. New hostels are set up on proposals from state governments to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which sanctions central assistance where land and need are established.
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