PM Modi announces free online coaching for youth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced free online coaching for aspirants preparing for competitive exams to ease the financial burden on their families and promised AI training for one crore youth.

"Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams," Modi said in his address to the nation on India's 80th Independence Day.

"Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching class, they are not a prestigious family," he said from Red Fort.

The prime minister said he assures these families that they can save "thousands of crores of rupees" spent on coaching, be close to their children, and care for them.

"And therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various examinations for the youth. We have digital public infrastructure; we have excellent talent and teachers. By bringing these resources together, we are going to build a complete network to provide free coaching to the youth of the country," Modi said.

The prime minister also announced that one crore youth will be trained in AI skills in the next one year.

"Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams," Modi added.

The country last month witnessed a strong mobilisation of youth over the NEET-UG paper leak and other education reforms, including ways to tackle the coaching menace.

The "Sansad Chalo" (March to Parliament) campaign, led by CJP, on July 20 saw widespread protests, bringing the concerns of youth into sharper focus.

By the end of the days-long agitation, the government was forced to concede the protesters' key demand, the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

PM Modi also said the country added 650 new universities in the last decade and more than doubled the number of medical seats since 2014. Modi noted the government brought in a new education policy after decades.

"For 35 years, there was no education policy. We brought a new education policy," he said from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

"From 2004 to 2014, there were fewer than 350 universities. And today, within 10-12 years, nearly 650 new universities have been added," the prime minister said.

"Before 2014, there were only 400 medical seats, and today nearly 850 medical seats are available," he added.

The prime minister said India is emerging as an attractive destination for foreign universities.

"... now foreign universities are also coming to India. Arrangements have also been made so that our youth can obtain foreign degrees within India," Modi said.