India moving towards innovation-driven economy: PM

New Delhi, Mar 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said that India is moving towards an innovation-driven economy.
Addressing the fourth in a series of post-budget webinars, focusing on the theme “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas-Fulfilling Aspirations of People”, Modi highlighted that the sectors of Education, Skill, Health, Tourism, Sports, and Culture are the primary vehicles for meeting these goals.
Emphasizing the vision of preventive and holistic health, the Prime Minister noted the rapid strengthening of health infrastructure and the global popularity of Yoga and Ayurveda. The Prime Minister highlighted that Medical colleges have been opened in hundreds of districts; Through the Ayushman Bharat scheme and Aarogya Mandirs, access to healthcare services has been expanded. Modi specifically drew attention to the emerging ‘Care Economy’ and the rising demand for caregivers globally, urging experts to develop new training models to empower the youth. “I would urge the health sector experts present in this webinar to give suggestions on developing new training models and partnerships so that the training ecosystem in the country can become even stronger,” stated Modi.
Regarding the digital transformation in healthcare, the Prime Minister spoke about the success of Tele-medicine in reaching remote areas. While acknowledging its growth, PM stressed the need for further simplifying the user experience and building greater public awareness. “I believe there is still a need to increase awareness and ease of use in Tele-medicine,” asserted Modi.
The Prime Minister lauded the evolving mindset of India’s youth as the nation’s greatest strength and called for an education system that matches this spirit. Modi highlighted that in the country, continuous efforts are being made to link education with employment and enterprise. The Prime Minister emphasized that the New Education Policy provides the foundation for a curriculum that must stay aligned with market demands and the real-world economy, specifically in fields like AI, automation, and the digital economy. “We will have to accelerate the process of linking our education system with the real-world economy,” noted Modi.
Discussing the nexus between education, employment, and enterprise, the Prime Minister highlighted the promotion of the A.V.G.C. (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) sector. Asserting that India is moving towards an innovation-driven economy, the Prime Minister called upon academic institutions to transform their campuses into hubs of industry collaboration and research-driven learning to provide students with essential real-world exposure. “I would urge you that in this webinar, there must be a brainstorm on developing your campuses as centers of industry collaboration and research-driven learning,” remarked Modi.
The Prime Minister expressed pride in the increasing number of women in STEM fields and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for daughters in futuristic technologies. Calling for a robust research ecosystem that encourages young researchers to innovate and experiment without barriers Modi emphasized, “We have to create such a research ecosystem where young researchers get full opportunity to experiment and work on new ideas.”
Turning to sports, the Prime Minister remarked that a healthy and disciplined youth population is the backbone of national power. He highlighted the impact of ‘Khelo India’ and emphasized the need for identifying talent even from smaller towns and regions, professionalizing sports bodies and improving structured financial support for athletes to prepare for upcoming events like the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic bid. “In such a situation, we have to identify and groom young players today, only then will India’s flag fly high in international competitions,” Modi remarked.
On the potential of Tourism and Culture to drive employment, the Prime Minister noted that developing new destinations beyond traditional spots boosts a city’s branding and overall development. Modi urged stakeholders to focus on a holistic approach involving skills, connectivity, and community participation. “Now we are focusing on developing tourist destinations in the country afresh,” noted the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister asserted, “Trained guides, hospitality skills, digital connectivity, and community participation are becoming the pillars of our tourism sector. Alongside these, cleanliness and sustainable practices are essential. Your suggestions on tourism and related areas will be of immense importance as we work together to strengthen India’s position as a global destination.”
In his concluding remarks, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of synergy between institutions, industry, and academia to accelerate national progress expressing confidence that these discussions would provide a solid roadmap for the future and solidify the foundation of a Developed India. “With such efforts, the foundation of a Developed India will be further strengthened,” concluded the PM.