Twenty-six-year-old from a middle class family in India, Yugratna has several years of advocacy and policy experience on environment and development nexus. As a vocal advocate of meaningful youth engagement, she has held elected leadership roles in multiple youth networks. Currently she serves as the elected focal point of the Children and Youth Major Group of UNEP and Environment Policy Officer for the Major Group for Children and Youth, as part of which she is leading preparations for youth engagement to UNEA and Stockholm+50 International Meeting in 2022. By profession, she is a student and works part time for ecological organization Plant-for-the-Planet International.

In the run up to the Paris Agreement Work Program, she served in the negotiating team as one of the youngest diplomats, where she supported work of G77 and AOSIS nations. She has previously served as Global South Focal Point of YOUNGO – youth constituency of UNFCCC in 2018, and had led processes for establishment of several youth engagement mechanisms in the UN system, such as UNCCD Youth Caucus, SDG7 Youth Constituency, Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform, and very recently the Youth Taskforce for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. In 2020, she was also nominated by the UN Secretary General as one of the 60 people globally to serve in the Multi-Stakeholder Champions Network of the UN Food Systems Summit. Her early background in environmental space lies in grassroots organizing including with networks such as 350 dot org, advocacy on divestment from fossil fuels, and door to door campaigning during school days. Having addressed the UNGA, and delivered 3 TEDx talks until date – she has also been conferred awards such as: the “Arbor Day Award” accorded to Plant-for-the-Planet, recognition under “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” by govt. of India on empowerment of girl child.