Youth Day of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstandin Zhashtar Kunu), celebrated annually on November 10, was established by Decree of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic №15 of January 14, 2002, taking into account the increasing role of the younger generation in the implementation of the democratic course of the Kyrgyz Republic and for the further development of youth policy, as well as on the initiative of the public association «Youth Development Corps» (YKR).
This holiday is dedicated to World Youth Day, celebrated on this day.
According to the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic «On the Fundamentals of State Youth Policy», young citizens aged 14 to 28 years are considered youth. According to the National Statistical Committee in Kyrgyzstan, young citizens — are approximately 24% of the country's population.
Traditionally, youth republican and regional conferences, congresses, festivals, competitions, sports competitions, and concerts of young talents are held on this day.
Since 2001, once every two years, with the participation of members of the government, a ceremony has been held to award young people with awards from the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in 11 categories (successor to the Lenin Komsomol Prize of Kyrgyzstan). Laureates receive a statuette, a Gold Diploma signed by the Prime Minister of the country and a cash prize.
Recognizing the merits and outstanding contribution to the development of domestic and world literature, art and culture of the Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic, Hero of Socialist Labor, People's Writer of the Kyrgyz Republic Chingiz Torekulovich Aitmatov and in order to perpetuate his memory, President of Kyrgyzstan K. In 2008, Bakiyev (which was declared the Year of Chingiz Aitmatov in Kyrgyzstan) instructed the Government to rename this award the State Youth Prize named after Ch.T. Aitmatov, whose first award took place on November 10, 2009.