Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced free online coaching for various competitive examinations during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, saying the high cost of coaching has become a major burden for poor and middle-class families.
Modi said the government wants young people to have access to quality preparation without having to move away from their families or spend large amounts of money on coaching centres.
PM Modi announces free online coaching
Highlighting the growing competition around coaching institutes, Modi said families often feel compelled to send their children to coaching centres to ensure they do not fall behind.
“The competition surrounding coaching classes has become a huge burden for middle-class families,” Modi said.
He added that parents often believe that not sending their children to a coaching centre means they are somehow falling behind.
Modi said the government wants to help families save the large amounts of money spent on coaching.
“Therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various competitive examinations for our youth,” he said.
The Prime Minister said India’s digital public infrastructure and pool of talented teachers and educators could support the initiative.
Youth to benefit from online learning
Modi said the initiative would allow young people to prepare for competitive examinations while staying closer to their families.
The announcement comes amid continuing concerns among students and job aspirants over the cost of competitive-exam preparation and examination-related issues.
The government’s proposed online coaching initiative could provide students with access to learning resources without the need to relocate to major education hubs or pay expensive coaching fees.
PM Modi urges youth to participate in Census 2027
During his Independence Day speech, Modi also appealed to young Indians to actively participate in the Census 2027 exercise.
He urged youngsters to contribute their time and help create an atmosphere of participation in households across the country.
“You may feel, What can I possibly do for the country in one or two hours? Let me tell you — those one or two hours can become a great source of strength for the nation,” he said.
Modi said accurate Census information would help the government formulate policies, design schemes and prepare India’s development roadmap.
“Counting is not merely about numbers. The details help shape policies and schemes. They help the country prepare its roadmap for development. Therefore, it is very important that we have accurate information,” he said.
PM Modi calls for action against ‘dimagi Naxals’
The Prime Minister also spoke about Maoist violence and called for the identification and isolation of what he described as “dimagi Naxals” or people with a Naxal mindset.
Modi said Maoist extremism had harmed the future of young people and claimed that the movement was now nearing its end.
He recalled the security challenges faced by the country over several decades and said thousands of security personnel had lost their lives while combating Maoist violence.
“When we came to power in 2014, we swore to rid the country of Naxals. I am happy Maoist violence is taking its last breath,” Modi said.
He added that several areas previously affected by Naxal violence had now become free of Maoist influence and were moving towards development.
