Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted the government’s education reforms, expansion of higher education and growing opportunities for young people during an address in Mysuru, describing India’s youth as the driving force behind the country’s development.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Viveka Smaraka at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Modi said education must be accompanied by equal opportunities regardless of gender or language. He said students can now pursue medical and engineering courses in their mother tongue, while women are gaining access to institutions such as the National Defence Academy.
The prime minister said India now has about 140,000 MBBS seats and 823 medical colleges, adding that more than 650 universities, nearly 14,000 colleges, over 4,000 Industrial Training Institutes, nine Indian Institutes of Management, seven Indian Institutes of Technology and 13 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences have been established during the past 12 years.
PM Modi described the National Education Policy as a key reform preparing students for the 21st century. He also highlighted initiatives including Atal Tinkering Labs and PM SHRI schools to promote innovation.
Invoking Swami Vivekananda, Modi urged young people to put the nation first and contribute through innovation, entrepreneurship, sports, environmental conservation and service to society.
