NEW DELHI: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said meritocracy has replaced autocracy and nepotism in the country and youngsters today have more opportunities to achieve their goals.

Interacting with National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers here, he also said that equality before the law has now been truly established, unlike in the past where some people thought they were above it.

The ecosystem of corruption and middlemen has been dismantled and youngsters have immense opportunities to realise their potential, Dhankhar said.

"The autocracy of corruption has been replaced with meritocracy of democracy," he said.

The NSS volunteers were part of an all-women contingent that participated in the Republic Day parade on Friday.

Describing youngsters as the foot soldiers who will help India become a developed country by 2047, he urged them to be innovative and focus on research and entrepreneurship.