NEW DELHI, Aug 15 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a major education and skilling initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for young Indians, including free online coaching for competitive examinations and artificial intelligence training for one crore youth.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi said the government would provide greater support to young people preparing for competitive examinations. The move is aimed at reducing the financial burden on families that spend heavily on private coaching.
The Prime Minister also announced plans to train one crore young people in artificial intelligence through specialised skilling programmes. The initiative is intended to help students and young professionals develop skills aligned with emerging technologies and the changing employment market.
The announcements come amid heightened concerns over examination integrity, intense competition for government jobs and the accessibility of quality coaching. The government has been pursuing measures to strengthen the public examination system following recent controversies surrounding alleged irregularities and paper leaks.
President Droupadi Murmu also stressed the importance of restoring confidence in public examinations in her Independence Day message, saying efforts were underway to make examinations more transparent, secure and trustworthy.
The proposed measures are expected to expand access to exam preparation and technology-oriented learning, particularly for students who may not be able to afford expensive coaching programmes.
The focus on AI training also reflects the growing emphasis on future-ready skills as India seeks to build a workforce capable of participating in emerging technology-driven sectors.