New Delhi, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed India’s youth at the centre of the country’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047, announcing measures focused on affordable competitive-exam preparation, artificial intelligence skills, sports talent and a drug-free India in his 80th Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Saturday.
Addressing the nation, Modi said the high cost of coaching for competitive examinations had become a significant burden for middle-class and poor families. Many parents, he said, felt compelled to spend heavily on coaching to ensure their children did not fall behind.
To address the issue, the Prime Minister announced that the Union government would provide free online coaching for a wide range of competitive examinations. The programme will leverage India’s digital public infrastructure and teaching talent to make quality preparation accessible without imposing additional financial pressure on families or requiring students to move away from home.
Modi also announced a target of training one crore young people in artificial intelligence skills over the coming year, with the objective of ensuring that Indian youth play a leading role in the global AI revolution.
Linking the initiative to India’s expanding innovation ecosystem, he cited the country’s more than 2.5 lakh startups, a ₹1 lakh crore Innovation Fund, thousands of Atal Tinkering Labs and the emergence of private space ventures. He also referred to a private space team with an average age of 28 that successfully launched a rocket on its first attempt.
Sports formed another key component of the Prime Minister’s youth-focused agenda. With India preparing for the 2036 Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games, Modi announced a nationwide talent-identification campaign targeting children aged between five and 15 years.
The campaign aims to identify sporting potential at an early age, particularly in disciplines where India currently has limited representation, and provide selected youngsters with specialised training.
Modi also called for a 100-week nationwide campaign to build a drug-free India. He urged families, My Bharat volunteers, NGOs and spiritual organisations to work together to safeguard the physical and mental well-being of young people.
The Prime Minister said developments over the past 12 years in areas such as startups, the bio-economy, electric vehicles and higher education had created opportunities for the younger generation that were previously difficult to imagine.
Through measures aimed at reducing the financial burden of coaching while expanding opportunities in AI, sports and personal well-being, Modi presented youth empowerment as a central component of India’s long-term development strategy.
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