With Gen Z remaining in focus after the recent CJP protests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday placed youth and education at the centre of his address in Mysuru, strongly highlighting the government's education reforms while stressing that equal access to opportunities, regardless of gender or language, is essential for India's progress.
Addressing the inauguration of the Viveka Smaraka at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, PM Modi spoke about the expansion of medical and higher education and invoked Swami Vivekananda's vision to underline that education must be accompanied by equality of opportunity.
"Ensuring there is no discrimination in education or opportunities has now become the nation's vision," the Prime Minister said.
He cited the admission of girls into institutions such as the National Defence Academy and the availability of medical and engineering courses in regional languages as examples of expanding opportunities.
"Students can now pursue courses like medicine and engineering in their mother tongue. This is helping eliminate discrimination in opportunities based on language," he said.
Education and equal opportunity formed the core of the Prime Minister's broader message to the youth, as he also praised their contribution to India's rapid economic growth.
"Today, India is the world's fastest-growing major economy. Who has made this possible? The capability of India's youth. Young Indians are driving development not only in the country but also contributing to global progress," he said.
PM Modi's Mysuru speech came at a politically significant time. In recent weeks, his selfie-style Instagram videos addressing young Indians gained widespread attention, even as the government faced the Gen Z-led CJP protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
The agitation brought education and examination reforms into sharp political focus and eventually led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Although the Prime Minister made no direct reference to the protests, his repeated emphasis on education, equal opportunities and guiding young people in the right direction came amid continuing pressure from students over the examination system.
Education reforms in focus
Highlighting developments in India's education sector over the past 12 years, PM Modi said the country had added more than 650 universities, nearly 14,000 colleges, over 4,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), nine Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and 13 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
He placed special emphasis on medical education, noting that India now has around 1.4 lakh MBBS seats and 823 medical colleges.
"Our educational institutions play a crucial role in nation-building. I am happy that their numbers are steadily increasing. Today, the country has nearly 1,40,000 MBBS seats, while the number of medical colleges has reached 823," he said.
The Prime Minister also described the National Education Policy (NEP) as a key pillar of the government's vision to equip young Indians for the future.
"The National Education Policy is emerging as a powerful tool to prepare India's youth for the 21st century," he said.
Referring to Swami Vivekananda's teachings, PM Modi said expanding educational institutions alone was insufficient and stressed the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.
"Swami Vivekananda regarded equality as being just as important as education for the nation's upliftment," he said.
From Atal Tinkering Labs to the space sector
Innovation featured prominently in the Prime Minister's speech as he linked education reforms with India's growing capabilities in emerging technologies.
He highlighted the establishment of more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs and over 14,000 PM SHRI Schools, saying these initiatives were fostering scientific thinking and innovation among students.
PM Modi also credited young Indians for driving growth in sectors such as startups, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, deep technology and space exploration.
He pointed to India's emergence as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem and the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer as evidence of the country's evolving technological and economic landscape.
The Prime Minister also referred to Skyroot Aerospace, whose young team became a symbol of India's growing capabilities in the space sector after the successful launch of Vikram-1, the country's first privately developed orbital rocket, in July 2026.
He recalled meeting Skyroot founders Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka in New Delhi, highlighting that the average age of the team behind the achievement was just 28.
Vivekananda central to PM's message
Swami Vivekananda remained a constant theme throughout PM Modi's address at the newly inaugurated cultural centre dedicated to the spiritual leader.
The Prime Minister said Vivekananda had always envisioned the youth taking the lead in shaping India's future.
"Vivekananda wanted the youth to lead India," he said.
"Realising the India that Swami Vivekananda dreamt of is the responsibility of today's generation. I am confident that Viveka Smaraka will become a lasting source of inspiration and energy for this mission," he added.
PM Modi urged young Indians to place national interest above personal ambitions and said the country's future depended on providing them with the right opportunities and guidance.
"In every nation, the potential of young people becomes national strength only when they receive the right opportunities, proper direction and the confidence to dream big and fulfil those dreams in their own country," he said.
He also invoked the principle of 'Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva'—serving humanity as service to God—and encouraged young people to work for the welfare of the poor while putting the nation first.
PM expands focus to sports and social initiatives
The Prime Minister also highlighted sports as another area where India's youth were making significant contributions.
He referred to initiatives such as Khelo India, the Youth Games, University Games, Para Games and Winter Games, saying the expansion of sports infrastructure was helping identify talent from villages and smaller towns.
PM Modi further encouraged young people to actively participate in campaigns related to cleanliness and water conservation, support local artisans and strengthen their connection with Kannada literature and Karnataka's rich cultural heritage.
