New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a slew of announcements aimed at Gen Z as well as Gen Alpha in his Independence Day speech Saturday, weeks after a massive youth protest demanding accountability for the NEET paper leak and other systemic problems forced his education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign.
In major outreach to Gen Z from the ramparts of Red Fort, the PM announced free online coaching classes for competitive examinations, pitching it as a way to ease the financial burden on poor and middle-class families.
Pressure to enrol in coaching classes has become a “huge burden” for middle class families, he said. “Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching centre, they are somehow falling behind or do not belong to a respectable family. Keeping the concerns of poor and middle-class families in mind, we want to help save them the thousands of crores of rupees they spend on coaching. Our young people should be able to stay close to their families, receive their care, and avoid placing an additional financial burden on them.”
Modi further said: “We have digital public infrastructure, and we have highly talented teachers and educators. By bringing these resources together, we will provide free coaching to the country’s young people and build an entire network for this purpose.”
Over the years, India’s coaching industry has grown into a major parallel education system, with these centres charging exorbitant fees from students preparing for high-stakes exams. The financial burden of coaching has taken a tragic toll. In May, a class 9 student died by suicide in Bihar’s Saharsa after her father, a daily wager, was unable to pay her coaching fees.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest at Jantar Mantar also saw students and parents raising concerns over the financial toll of competitive exam preparation.
In his I-Day speech, the Prime Minister also announced a programme to train one crore youth in Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills over the next year. “AI is expanding at a very rapid pace. From the Red Fort, I want to make an announcement for the youth of the country: We have decided that over the next one year, we will train one crore young people in AI skills, so that the youth of our country have the capability to lead in the world of AI.”
Extending his outreach to even younger children aged 5 to 15, including Gen Alpha, Modi announced a nationwide talent hunt campaign to identify sporting talent. “India is also set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The Olympics feature around 40 sports and nearly 350 events. Sadly, India does not participate or qualify in nearly two-thirds of these events. We have decided to prepare strongly for 2036, focusing on disciplines where India has limited participation today,” he said.
“For this, a nationwide talent hunt campaign will be launched across villages, cities and schools to identify sporting talent among children aged 5 to 15. They will receive specialised training and be prepared to represent India at the highest level,” the Prime Minister added.
Modi also said that he was concerned about the rise in drug abuse among the country’s youth, and called for a “drug-free India”.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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