‘Right opportunities and direction turn youth potential into national strength’: PM Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday continued his outreach to young people following protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) examination. He credited India’s youth with driving the country’s startup ecosystem and contributing to global development.
PM Modi made the remarks after inaugurating the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre, called Viveka Smaraka, in Karnataka’s Mysuru.
Opportunities for youth
The Prime Minister said young people need proper guidance and opportunities to use their abilities for the country’s progress.
“In any country, the potential of the youth transforms into national strength only when they receive the right opportunities and direction, and the confidence to dream big and realise those dreams on their own soil,” PM Modi said.
He stressed that educational institutions play an important role in helping young people pursue their ambitions.
“Our educational institutions play a pivotal role in this regard. I am pleased that the number of educational institutions in India is steadily rising… Today, the country has around 1,40,000 MBBS seats. The number of medical colleges has risen to 823,” he added.
Focus on modern education
PM Modi said the government had focused on modernising India’s educational infrastructure and adapting the system to current needs.
He praised the National Education Policy 2020 and said it would prepare young Indians for the demands of the 21st century. He added that students now have opportunities to study engineering and medicine in their mother tongue.
Vivekananda’s vision recalled
The Prime Minister expressed hope that Viveka Smaraka would become a place for spiritual upliftment. He said the centre should help shape and guide young people.
“Swami Vivekananda considered equality to be just as crucial as education for the upliftment of the nation. Ensuring there is no discrimination in education or opportunities has now become the nation’s vision,” he said.
Outreach after protests
The remarks came after a major student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET paper leak. The agitation led to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as education minister and the formation of a high-level committee for education reforms.
The government also introduced an anti-paper leak law, which received President Droupadi Murmu’s assent. The law provides stringent punishment for those involved in examination malpractices. PM Modi had welcomed its passage and promised to strengthen India’s examination system.