PM Modi announces AI training for 1 crore youth in I-Day speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address on Saturday, announced plans to provide artificial intelligence skills training to one crore (10 million) young Indians over the next year. Speaking from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi outlined a seven-point 'Sapta Dhara' vision for 'Viksit Bharat', the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047. Greater Kashmir reports that the PM identified technology and innovation as the third 'shakti' of this framework, calling on India to become a global innovation hub rather than merely a market. He said India must lead in next-generation communications, including Made-in-India 6G.

Rediff.com adds that Modi also promised free online coaching for competitive examinations, saying that coaching centres place a financial burden on poor and middle-class families. 'We will provide free online coaching for various exams,' he said, adding that digital public infrastructure and teachers would be brought together to create a nationwide coaching network. The PM highlighted that India has added nearly 650 universities in the last 10-12 years and more than doubled the number of medical seats since 2014. Greater Kashmir further reports that Modi flagged energy security as critical to tech ambitions, targeting 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047, and said work on 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra' for defence was progressing rapidly.

According to Greater Kashmir, the PM stressed that cybersecurity is a concern for every household and that modern conflicts could target critical infrastructure like refineries and data centres. He noted that India's defence exports have risen nearly 50-fold. Rediff.com reports that Modi urged youth to participate in the ongoing Census exercise and said the country must focus on 'cost, quality and skill' to strengthen its young workforce. The announcements are part of the government's push to empower youth as key drivers of the 'Viksit Bharat' vision.