Quote"Yoga should be taught compulsorily in all schools of India from the year 2013, which marks Swami Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary. The creation of four Yoga Universities in the name of Swami Vivekananda for research and practice would be a fitting tribute to this great man's vision, and it is up to us to realize and maintain this vision."
Quote"We should set up a centre of excellence in one of our universities to deal exclusively with the study of Swami Vivekananda's teachings and their relevance to our everyday lives."
Quote"We can broadcast the teachings of Swamiji in television and radio, or depict an episode pertaining to teachings."
Quote"India can institute awards for “Ideal Youth Personality of the Year” in the name of Swami Vivekananda."
Quote"The complete works of Swami Vivekananda should be made available in other Indian as well as foreign languages."

Place :New Delhi, Date :20-05-2010

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

You shall no doubt have understood the context alluded to in the previous line. The famous Chicago address of 1893, the event which marked the arrival of Swami Vivekananda in America, was opened with a very similar line, and what an opening it was. I do not refer to the applause that the line got, but rather the sentiment associated with the line. In five words, Swamiji had managed to encapsulate the essence of our country, our openness, be it in terms of openness of thought or openness in terms of lending a welcoming hand to others. Our country has always prided itself on its capability to provide not just a shelter, but rather a home to other people and other disciplines. And this has been made possible only through pure love, trust and a general sense of concern for others.

We are here now to discuss and understand how we can commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. I welcome the setting up of this committee, and I thank you all for inviting me to this meeting to share my ideas. However, since we are talking about none other than Swamiji himself, the biggest way in which we can commemorate his 150th birth anniversary, the greatest homage we can pay to this great man would be by implementing some of his ideas for social reform, and see that they get implemented correctly the way he would have liked it.

When we talk about Swami Vivekananda we are not just talking about a monk, we are in fact talking about one of the greatest intellectuals and champions of social justice the world had ever seen, a person who was born much before his time and sowed the seeds of the future in his present. When we talk about Swami Vivekananda, we are not merely restricting ourselves to a religion; we are in fact talking about humankind as a whole, a land free of caste, creed and colour. When we talk about Swami Vivekananda, we are not merely talking about ideas for the betterment of people, we are talking about the implementation of those ideas, down to the grassroots, down to the lowest levels, for if change has to begin, it has to begin from the people who need it the most.

In his lifetime Swamiji tried to bring about many changes in society and the irony is that while we are here discussing how to commemorate 150 years of his birth most of the evils that plagued society then still affect our society. In this context Swamiji's teachings hold as much relevance today as they held a hundred years earlier. He realized that there was more to the world than ‘Me, Myself and I'. He understood that there was a common soul running through all of nature, a common tie that binds us all, and he believed in his strand of Vedanta which held that no one can be truly free until everyone is free. At a base level, this can be categorized as the spirit of greater good. However this is not merely good for others. This is about freedom for everyone, including the self. In today's world, which reeks of corruption, selfishness and putting the self above the rest, the philosophy of impersonal enlightenment taught by Swami Vivekananda can be an antidote. He said that that the individual cannot be free unless everyone is, and that puts a collective responsibility on all of us to strive for a better world.

Swamiji's ideas are not mere idle philosophies. We must remember that he was the man who gave us the gift of "Practical Vedanta". His entire philosophy revolved around the concept of social justice and his idea of service was service to the Daridra Narayans, the outcastes. His mission was to serve the suffering, and he saw to it that this happened. He mobilized the Ramakrishna Math as well as the Ramakrishna Mission, and brought about an organized movement to reduce the suffering of the masses through educational, cultural, medical and humanitarian relief work. This sort of holistic approach to ameliorate society is something we can derive inspiration from, for it is not merely the open wound that has to heal, it is the scabs left on the mind that are not reopened. Swamiji spoke of bringing about a radical transformation that would change the very social fabric of this country, a revolution that would lead to the awakening of a nation, and bring about social justice for all. Putting this cause in his own words, he said:

 "My whole ambition in life is to set in motion a machinery which will bring noble ideas to the door of everybody"

However, given the limited time that he spent on earth, one cannot be sure if such machinery had indeed been put in place. And hence it is up to us. We, as political leaders, as heads of state governments and the government of India, can make this change happen in its true sense, throughout the land. If one man could do so much in such a short span of time to alleviate the suffering of so many, should we not try to honour this achievement and the man himself by trying our best to bring about this change? Given that people are still suffering, poverty is still rampant, and division on the basis of caste and creed still common, is it not our duty to realize this dream of creating a system that will help to alleviate and gradually eradicate this suffering and pain?

We, the people of India, have tried to provide as much education to as many people as possible and it truly is our duty to do so. However, as Swamiji had put it, education is not a means of imparting knowledge from the outside; rather it is the manifestation of the perfection already within human beings. Education does not end with school or college, or with textbooks; education is a lifelong process, and we will do well to keep learning to the very last moment of our lives. The world itself is a huge book, and it is up to us to read the pages that are presented before our eyes, to learn from our everyday experiences and then try to apply this learning for the betterment of society. As Swami Prabhananda pointed out, Swami Vivekananda's concept of education consisted of Capacity, Propensity and Capability: that which makes learning possible, the development of learning, and self-development or self-empowerment. In the words of Swamiji himself:

"The education which does not help the common mass of people to equip themselves for the struggle of life, which does not bring out strength of character, a spirit of philanthropy, and the courage of a lion – is it worth the name? Real education is that which enables one to stand on one's own legs"

In the light of these words, it is up to us to ponder: is the education that is being imparted to our children in accordance with the real sense of the term? And if it is not, then how can such a change in the education system be brought about to make education more relevant and pertinent in a rapidly changing world? And this is not a new question which I am putting forth before you; today I am merely re-iterating the question which had been asked over a hundred years ago.

In order to bring about true and meaningful changes in the pages of our times, we not only have to look at it in the short run and the changes we might bring about with immediate effect, we also have to seriously consider some long-term programs to mobilize the vision of Swami Vivekananda and convert his dream of an emancipated India into tangible reality. While the proposals themselves deal with short-term awareness creation activities meant to introduce a large mass of people, especially the youth, to the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, there is a real need to create permanent institutions which can take on the baton and provide a sense of continuity to the interests kindled by the IEC activities. For a man who believed actions speak more louder than words the least we can do to honour him is to provide some sort of a permanent platform to keep his message alive for the present as well as for generations to come.

Today, the average age of our countrymen is around 25 years. It is heartening to see that the future of the country lies in such young hands, and we should do all that we can to provide facilities for the betterment of these youth. The first thing we have to do is to make our youth strong both in mind and body. And for this, we need not look westwards for inspiration. All we have to do is a bit of soul-searching. We should remember that we were the ones who gave the West the gift of Yoga, which aims at attaining the body-mind continuum. While people pour in from the West into our land to learn this ancient and beneficial art, we, the creators of this form are well on our way to forgetting it. It is time we used our own nectar for our own benefit. It is time that we look beyond fads and fleeting trends and recognize the value of our own heritage. It is time that we brought back this ancient system, and make it available to the masses and especially the youth in a scientific, systematic and widespread manner.

As I have mentioned earlier, Swamiji was a great advocate of the adoption of Yoga, as it not only strengthens the body but also helps in giving us better control over our minds. He was responsible for popularizing all four folds of Yoga -- Gyan, Bhakti, Raj and Karma. In accordance with his belief Yoga should be promoted in a big way in India reaching out to the masses and not just be restricted to the elite. Gujarat has already made Yoga compulsory for all children in schools from the first to the ninth standard. To make Yoga a nationwide phenomenon, the Government of India can announce that Yoga should be taught compulsorily in all schools of India from the year 2013, which marks Swamiji's 150th birth anniversary. The creation of four Yoga Universities in the name of Swami Vivekananda for research and practice would be a fitting tribute to this great man's vision, and it is up to us to realize and maintain this vision. Apart from these, in the future, the Yoga universities should have branches all over the globe, as this creates a better touch-point for imparting the teachings of Swamiji to a greater audience. Yoga itself can also be propagated as a sort of stress management system, to create more awareness about the benefits of this art form, and increase its desirability across the world. Great universities and centres of excellence, such as Nalanda and Takshashila, existed on this land, and these Yoga Universities should follow suit and become leading lights in their field, making a name for themselves on the global educational map.

As for the serious practitioners of Yoga, they should be incentivized to look at Yoga as a form of employment, with post graduate qualification in Yoga being recognised for recruitment of PT teachers in schools. Finally, in order to set standards in the practice of Yoga, the Government can set up a regulatory body in the country for standardization of Yoga Techniques and for accreditation of Yoga Institutes in the country. The practice of Yoga itself should also be rewarded with awards such as the Best Yoga Practitioner award in order to incentivise the practice of Yoga. With all these measures in place, I firmly believe that India can become the Yoga capital of the world, and all the wealth of knowledge that we posses in this field will turn out to be India's USP, in turn attracting even more global attention and fanfare.

Furthermore, it is shocking, and in a way appalling, that there exists no educational institution or university devoted to the study of Swamiji's teaching. Given the fact that we are talking about a man who was far ahead of his time and whose teachings are still relevant, we should set up a centre of excellence in one of our universities to deal exclusively with the study of Swami Vivekananda's teachings and their relevance to our everyday lives. If such a centre is set up in Gujarat, I am willing to provide land and infrastructure to further this noble cause. This centre of excellence can study his teachings and their application in varied fields such as education, management, and human resource development.

The major point of difference between Swami Vivekananda and other monks, gurus and spiritual leaders is that according to Swamiji, God was not the centre of religion, Man was. And it was only through the service of man and mankind that one could attain the sublime heights of spirituality. For the realization of this dream, Swamiji saw tremendous potential in the youth, whose energies could be harnessed and channelized in the right direction for the welfare of all. He saw through the fact that it was mainly the youth of the country who had the power to transform and convince other youth, having a sort of multiplier effect on the state of affairs and bringing about quick and effective change. India is a young country, with tremendous potential in terms of manpower. However, in today's world, we see the youth living in a hyper real world of constant excitement. In this era of globalization, in this world of infinite choices, it is necessary to channelize this abundant energy of the youth, and we now have the opportunity to provide the youth the right direction so that they can take their country to greater heights.

Swamiji gave us the concept of "Daridra Narayan Seva" – the service of God through the service of the poor. This was meant to liberate not only individuals but also the entire society as a whole. Sadly, in today's world, we find the youth constantly being bombarded and stifled with the message of individual glory and success. Today's world compels them to be self-centred and inward looking rather than doing something for the common good of society. It is important for us to remember the words of wisdom that have been passed on to us over the years, and not forget them in our quest to reach for the stars. Hence it would be in the fitness of things to start a poverty alleviation program in Swamiji's name or to rename an existing program to spread the message of Daridra Narayan Seva. Swamiji had said: "India wants the sacrifice of at least a thousand of her young men" when he pledged himself to the cause of serving the poor. Today, we need more than just thousand people to achieve the goal set by Swamiji. A special program can be implemented, which involves the educated youth of our country, and requires them to work for a year or two, devoting their time to rural upliftment and service to the poor. In doing this, they can realize the philosophy of spiritual humanism that formed the core of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. One should remember what Swami Vivekananda said with regard to the proper use of the body carefully cultivated through Yoga;

 "Let this body go in service of others."

In order to protect and preserve the memory of Swami Vivekananda and his teachings, we can create memorials in his honour. All places where Swamiji stayed for a period of more than a week in the entire country during his journey across the nation can have memorials erected in the name of Swamiji. Four places in Gujarat: Rajkot, Vadodara, Limbdi and Porbandar: have already established such memorials. Apart from these spots, a statue of Swamiji can be erected at Somnath, which was the first place in his itinerary when he set forth on his Bharat Yatra. These memorials, apart from being a homage to the great man, will also serve as a permanent reminder of who the Swamiji was, and what he stood for.

It is imperative that we get the message of Swamiji across to as many people possible across the nation. To meet this end, we can broadcast the teachings of Swamiji in television and radio, or depict an episode pertaining to teachings. This "Vivek Vani" program has to be done on a daily basis to increase the reach as well as the frequency of users across these mediums, and also to create a greater impact on the people tuning in to these programs.

The essence of Swami Vivekananda should be kept alive not by mere words, but by actions. To this effect, places where Swamiji lived and taught such as Kolkata, Kanyakumari, Somnath, Porbandar, Kutch etc. should be developed as part of the "Vivekananda Tourist Circuit and Education Sphere", and necessary facilities should be provided to enable people to visit the places where Swami Vivekananda lived and taught.

Efforts should be made to propagate Swami Vivekananda as a role model for the youth of today, as Swamiji's main concern was to mobilise the youth of the country to join the movement. Also, given the fact that Swami Vivekananda achieved all that he had to at a very young age, and also chose to be different from the rest around him, it might strike a chord with the youth of today. To achieve this aim, the Government of India can institute awards for "Ideal Youth Personality of the Year" in the name of Swami Vivekananda. Apart from this, the recently introduced Model School Scheme of the Government of India can be named after Swamiji. Also, in order to strike a patriotic chord with the youth, the National Service Scheme, which is a Government of India Scheme, can be named after him, considering he was in favour of doing service to the country.

The works of Swami Vivekananda should be disseminated and distributed to as large an audience as possible. Swamiji's works are currently available in print only in English and a few other languages. For greater understanding of Swamiji and his efforts, the complete works of Swami Vivekananda should be made available in other Indian as well as foreign languages, and they should be made affordable at a reasonable price after their translation. Apart from the print medium, the film based on Swami Vivekananda should also be dubbed in foreign languages to extend the reach and impact of Swamiji's teachings across the globe.

Swamiji's works and ideas cannot be restricted to the shores of one land alone, and it is important that we create a sort of global consciousness about the Swamiji's teachings and ideas. To make this happen, we can enlist the help of our Indian embassies across the globe. Committees can be formed, which will consist of local leaders who will take it upon themselves to spread the word of Swamiji. Initiatives such as conversion of Swamiji's works into the language of the land, and holding seminars and conferences related to Swamiji and his teachings can be organized to effectively bring about an increased interest in Swami Vivekananda in foreign shores.

Swami Vivekananda paid a great deal of emphasis on education and self-reliance through education. To reward this spirit of self-reliance through education, the Central Government should institute fellowships for excellence in higher education and research to such scientists and researchers who have with their critical research and contributions, made India self-reliant.

Apart from these measures, Swamiji was also a passionate advocate of women's rights and women's equality. He had said:

"It is very difficult to understand why in this country(India) so much difference is made between men and women, whereas the Vedanta declares that one and the same conscious Self is present in all beings. You always criticize the women, but say what you have dome for their upliftment? Writing down Smritis etc., and binding them by hard rules, the men have turned women into manufacturing machines! If you do not raise the women, who are the living embodiment of the Divine Mother, don't think that you have any other way to rise."

Following this strain of thought, it is time for us to act upon these words and do something concrete for the women of our country. The empowerment envisaged by Swamiji can be realized only through education of women. In this context, the Government of India should set up scholarships schemes named after Swami Vivekananda to encourage the education of girl children. Such a measure will increase the enrolment of girls into schools, and also provide families an incentive to raise their girl child in the best possible manner. As for the results, this will not only create awareness about the Swamiji himself, but also attach his name with the cause that he felt so deeply and passionately about.

What sort of human being did Swamiji envisage? His poem to Miss Alberta Sturges captures this wonderfully:

 The Mother's heart, the hero's will,

The softest flowers' sweetest feel;

The charm and force that ever sway

The altar-fire's flaming play;

The strength that leads, in love obeys;

Far-reaching dreams, and patient ways,

Eternal faith in Self, in all,

The light Divine in great, in small;

All these and more than I could see

 It is my appeal to all of you that if we are to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of this great man, we should do it with deeds and not words to usher in a better tomorrow. We can indeed do a lot. We can make a real difference. We have the voice to bring about a change. Let us honour this great man by trying to realize his dream of a better India, a brighter India, by following in his footsteps. The concept of Daridra Narayan Seva holds as true today as it did then with community service paving the way for the greater good of mankind. The art of Yoga can lead to the general well-being of both the mind and the body and with India at the forefront of this movement can garner global recognition and acclaim. Projection of Swami Vivekananda as a youth icon will lead to more social consciousness in the youth of today. The dissemination of the works of Swamiji will lead to greater awareness about the life, times and efforts of this great man towards ameliorating the poor plight of our countrymen. All in all the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary should be a reason for all of us to rise to the occasion in our own small ways, to take a step forward in the right direction. In Swamiji's words, it is time for us to "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached."

Narendra Modi

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The world acknowledges today that India possesses two infinite powers - Demography & Democracy: PM Modi
July 12, 2025
QuoteToday, more than 51 thousand youths have been given appointment letters, Through such employment fairs, millions of young people have already secured permanent jobs in the Government , Now these young people are playing a significant role in nation-building: PM
QuoteThe world acknowledges today that India possesses two infinite powers, One is demography, the other is democracy, In other words, the largest youth population and the largest democracy: PM
QuoteThe ecosystem of startups, innovation, and research being built in the country today is enhancing the capabilities of the nation's youth: PM
QuoteThe Government's focus is also on creating new employment opportunities in the private sector with the recently approved new scheme,the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme: PM
QuoteToday, one of India's greatest strengths is our manufacturing sector, A large number of new jobs are being created in manufacturing: PM
QuoteTo boost the manufacturing sector, the Mission Manufacturing has been announced in this year's budget: PM
QuoteA report from the International Labour Organization - ILO states that over the past decade, more than 90 crore citizens of India have been brought under the ambit of welfare schemes: PM
QuoteToday, major global institutions like the World Bank are praising India, India is being ranked among the top countries with the highest equality in the world: PM

Namaskar!

Our campaign to provide permanent jobs to the youth in the Central Government is continuing steadily. And we are known for this—no recommendation, no corruption. Today, more than 51,000 young people have been given appointment letters. Lakhs of youth have already secured permanent jobs in the Indian government through such Rozgar Melas (employment fairs). These young individuals are now playing a significant role in nation-building. Today, many of you have started your responsibilities in Indian Railways. Some will now become the guardians of the nation's security, others appointed in the Postal Department will help deliver government services to every village, some will be foot soldiers of the Health for All mission, many young professionals will help accelerate financial inclusion, and others will drive Bharat's industrial development forward. Your departments may be different, but the goal is the same. And what is that goal? We must remember it again and again: No matter the department, task, position, or region — the one and only goal is service to the nation. The guiding principle is: Citizen First. You have been given a great platform to serve the people of the country. I congratulate all of you on achieving this great success at such an important stage of life. I extend my best wishes for this new journey in your career.

Friends,

Today the world acknowledges that Bharat has two limitless strengths: one is demography, and the other is democracy—the largest population of youth and the world's biggest democracy. This power of youth is both the greatest asset and the strongest guarantee for Bharat’s bright future. Our government is working day and night to turn this strength into a formula for prosperity. As you all know, I have just returned from a visit to five countries. In every country, I could hear the praise and recognition of Bharat’s youth power. All the agreements signed during these visits will certainly benefit Bharat’s youth, both at home and abroad. In sectors like defence, pharmaceuticals, digital technology, energy, and rare earth minerals, the agreements made will bring significant advantages to Bharat in the coming days. They will give a strong boost to Bharat’s manufacturing and services sectors.

Friends,

With changing times, the nature of jobs in the 21st century is also evolving, and new sectors are constantly emerging. That is why, Bharat has focused on preparing its youth for these changes over the past decade. Important decisions have been taken, and modern policies have been formulated keeping in mind the needs of the present era. The ecosystem of start-ups, innovation, and research that is taking shape in the country today is enhancing the potential of our youth. When I see young people aspiring to launch their own start-ups, it increases my own confidence. Just now, Dr. Jitendra Singh ji also shared some detailed statistics with you regarding start-ups. I feel proud to see that the youth of my country is moving forward with great vision, speed, and strength, with a desire to do something new.

Friends,

The Indian government is also focusing on creating new employment opportunities in the private sector. Recently, the government has approved a new scheme — the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme. Under this scheme, the government will provide 15,000 rupees to a youth getting their first job in the private sector. In other words, the government will contribute towards the first salary of the first job. For this, the government has allocated a budget of around 1 lakh crore rupees. This scheme is expected to help in the creation of approximately 3.5 crore new jobs.

Friends,

Today, one of Bharat’s greatest strengths is our manufacturing sector. A large number of new jobs are being created in manufacturing. To boost this sector, this year’s Union Budget has announced the launch of Mission Manufacturing. Over the past few years, we have strengthened the Make in India initiative. Just through the PLI (Production Linked Incentive) Scheme, more than 11 lakh jobs have been created in the country. The mobile phone and electronics sectors have witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years. Today, electronics manufacturing worth nearly 11 lakh crore rupees is taking place in Bharat. That’s a more than fivefold increase in the past 11 years. Earlier, Bharat had only 2 or 4 mobile phone manufacturing units. Now, we have nearly 300 units related to mobile phone manufacturing, employing lakhs of young people. Another prominent sector is defence manufacturing, which is gaining even more attention and pride after Operation Sindoor. Bharat is setting new records in defence production. Our defence production has now crossed 1.25 lakh crore rupees. Bharat has also achieved a major milestone in the locomotive sector — we are now the largest producer of locomotives in the world. Whether it’s locomotives, rail coaches, or metro coaches, Bharat is exporting them in large numbers to many countries. Our automobile sector is also experiencing unprecedented growth.

In just the last 5 years, the sector has received about $40 billion in FDI (Foreign Direct Investment). That means new companies have come in, new factories have been established, new jobs have been created — and at the same time, vehicle demand has surged, with record sales of automobiles in Bharat. Bharat’s progress in various sectors, and these manufacturing records, don’t happen on their own. They are possible only because more and more young people are getting jobs. It is their hard work, intellect, and dedication that have made this possible. Bharat’s youth have not only found employment, but they’ve also excelled at it. Now, as government employees, it is your duty to ensure that this momentum in the manufacturing sector continues. Wherever you are assigned, you must act as an enabler, an encourager, remove obstacles, and simplify processes. The more ease you bring to the system, the more benefit it will bring to the people of the country.

Friends,

Today, our country is rapidly progressing towards becoming the third-largest economy in the world, and any Indian can proudly say this. This achievement is the result of the hard work and sweat of our youth. In the past 11 years, the nation has made progress in every sector. Recently, a very commendable report was released by the International Labour Organization (ILO). This report highlights that more than 90 crore citizens in Bharat have been brought under the umbrella of welfare schemes over the last decade. This is essentially the expansion of social security. And the impact of these schemes goes far beyond welfare—they have also generated a massive number of new jobs. Let me give you a simple example — the PM Awas Yojana. Under this scheme, 4 crore new pucca (permanent) houses have already been built, and construction of 3 crore more houses is currently underway. Now, when such a large number of homes are being built, masons, labourers, suppliers of raw materials, transport operators, local shopkeepers, and truck drivers—all get work. Imagine the enormous number of jobs created through this! What’s even more heartening is that most of these jobs are in rural areas, so people don’t need to migrate to cities. Similarly, 12 crore new toilets have been constructed across the country. This has created work not only in construction but also for plumbers, carpenters, and skilled workers from our Vishwakarma community. This is how job creation expands and leaves a real impact. Likewise, over 10 crore new LPG connections have been provided under the Ujjwala scheme. To support this, a large number of bottling plants have been set up, creating employment for cylinder manufacturers, distribution agencies, and delivery personnel. Each initiative—if you examine closely—creates multiple layers of employment opportunities. Lakhs of people have gained new jobs from such initiatives.

Friends,

I would like to mention another scheme, one that truly brings double the benefit—like having a laddu in each hand, as we say. That scheme is the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Under this scheme, the government is giving an average subsidy of over 75,000 rupees per household to install rooftop solar panels. This essentially turns your roof into a power plant—generating electricity not just for your own use, but also for sale to the grid if there's surplus. This brings electricity bills down to zero and saves families significant money. Engineers and technicians are needed to install the plants. Solar panel manufacturing factories and raw material suppliers are growing. Transport operators are employed to move materials. A whole new industry is emerging for the maintenance and repair of these systems. Just imagine—the benefits are not only helping citizens, but also creating lakhs of new employment opportunities.

Friends,

The ‘Namo Drone Didi’ initiative has increased the income of our sisters and daughters and also created new employment opportunities in rural areas. Under this scheme, lakhs of rural women are being trained as drone pilots. Available reports show that our Drone Didis—mothers and sisters from our villages—are earning lakhs of rupees in a single farming season by offering drone-based agricultural services on a contract basis. Not only that, this initiative is also giving a big boost to the drone manufacturing sector in the country. Whether in agriculture or defence, drone manufacturing is opening up new avenues for the youth of our country.

Friends,

The campaign to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis is ongoing. Out of these, 1.5 crore women have already achieved this milestone. And as you know, becoming a Lakhpati Didi means earning at least 1 lakh rupees every year, consistently—not just once. That is the benchmark. 1.5 crore Lakhpati Didis! Today, if you visit villages, you’ll often hear terms like Bank Sakhis, Bima Sakhis, Krishi Sakhis, Pashu Sakhis—these are various schemes through which our mothers and sisters in villages have got employment opportunities. Similarly, under the PM SVANidhi Scheme, street vendors and hawkers were given support for the first time. Lakhs have benefited from it. Because of digital payments, even roadside vendors now prefer UPI over cash. Why? Because it gives them instant access to more credit from the bank. Banks trust them more, and they don’t need piles of paperwork. This means that even a humble street vendor now moves forward with confidence and pride. Take the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, for example. It’s focused on modernizing and upgrading traditional, ancestral, and family-based crafts and trades. It helps by: Providing modern tools, offering training to artisans, craftsmen, and service providers, facilitating easy loans. There are countless such schemes, through which the poor have been uplifted, and youth have found employment. The impact of all these initiatives is so significant that, in just 10 years, 25 crore Indians have risen out of poverty. Think about it—if they hadn’t found employment, if there was no income in the family, how would a person who had been poor for three or four generations even imagine coming out of that darkness? For them, each day was a struggle for survival, and life felt like a burden. But today, they have defeated poverty with their strength and courage. These 25 crore brothers and sisters have emerged victorious, and I salute their determination. They used the government’s schemes as tools, didn't sit around and complain—they fought back against poverty, uprooted it, and conquered it. Now imagine, the new self-confidence that is building among these 25 crore people! When a person overcomes a crisis, a new strength emerges. This new strength has also emerged in my country, and it will play a vital role in taking the country forward. And let me be clear—this is not just the government saying it. Today, global institutions like the World Bank are openly praising Bharat for this achievement. The world is presenting Bharat as a model. Bharat is now being ranked among the top countries in the world in terms of equality—which means inequality is decreasing rapidly, and we are moving toward greater equality. The world is now taking note of this transformation.

Friends,

The great mission of development, the movement for welfare of the poor and employment generation that is currently underway—you now share the responsibility of taking it forward from today. The government should never be a hurdle; it should always be a facilitator of growth. Every individual deserves the opportunity to move ahead. It is our role to extend a helping hand. And you, my friends, are young. I have great faith in you. I have high expectations from you. Wherever you're assigned, you must always put the citizens first. Helping them, easing their difficulties—that alone will push the nation forward rapidly. You are to become active participants in Bharat’s Amrit Kaal—this golden period of opportunity. The next 20 to 25 years are crucial, not just for your career, but for the future of the entire country. These are the defining years for building a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). That is why, your work, your duties, and your goals must be aligned with the resolve to create a ‘Viksit Bharat’. The mantra ‘Nagrik Devo Bhavo’ (Citizen is Divine) must run through your veins, live in your heart and mind, and reflect in your conduct and behaviour.

And I am fully confident, my friends, that this youth power has stood with me over the past 10 years in taking the country forward. They have taken each of my words to heart and done whatever they could for the nation—from wherever they were, in whatever capacity they could. Now that you have been given this opportunity, expectations from you are higher. Your responsibility is greater. And I believe—you will rise to the occasion and make it happen. Once again, I wholeheartedly congratulate you. I extend my warmest wishes to your families, who deserve a bright and prosperous future. May you all achieve great success in life. Keep upgrading yourself continuously through the iGOT platform. Now that you have secured your position, don’t sit back. Dream big, aim high. Through hard work, continuous learning, and bringing fresh results, move ahead. Your progress is the pride of the country and your growth is my satisfaction. That is why, today, as you embark on this new journey in life, I have come here to speak with you, to bless you, and to welcome you as my partner in fulfilling many dreams. As a close and trusted companion, I welcome you warmly. Thank you very much, and best wishes to you all.