India’s youth driving global growth: PM

Mysuru, Aug 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday credited the youth for propelling the nation to possess the fastest-growing economy, the third-largest startup ecosystem, and the second-largest mobile manufacturing capacity globally.
After inaugurating the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre – Viveka Smaraka at Mysuru, Karnataka, the Prime Minister praised the city as the eternal epicenter of the nation’s cultural consciousness, the Prime Minister commended its impeccable preservation of a rich heritage encompassing grand palaces, vibrant festivals, and historic traditions. “India’s heritage is deeply embedded in every particle of this city, and it brings immense satisfaction to see how proficiently it has been preserved and embellished,” noted Modi.
Celebrating the legacy of the newly inaugurated Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre, also known as the Viveka Smaraka, the Prime Minister honored the profound historical connections between the legendary monk, local scholars like Kuvempu, and the city’s intellectual history. “Through the inauguration of this historic center, we are actively giving a brand-new expansion to this great mission,” affirmed Modi.
Emphasizing the rigorous spiritual trials required to mold an ordinary individual into an extraordinary personality, the Prime Minister highlighted the crucial role that supportive visionaries play during a seeker’s formative years of penance. “The one who recognizes a seeker during their penance is ultimately a vital partner in their eventual spiritual attainment,” observed Modi.
Detailing a defining historical anecdote, the Prime Minister recounted how the then Maharaja of Mysuru uniquely recognized and supported a young, relatively unknown wandering monk over 130 years ago, a pivotal intervention that Swami Vivekananda later acknowledged with deep gratitude from America. “The people who recognized him at that time when his fame was not yet established included the then Maharaja as a prominent name,” remarked Modi.
Aligning the core philosophy of the Ramakrishna Ashrama with Swami Vivekananda’s belief in selfless service, the Prime Minister lauded the institution’s century-long dedication to educational, medical, and disaster relief operations. “Truly, he alone lives who lives entirely for others, and following this very mantra, the Ashrama completed its glorious hundred years,” affirmed Modi.
Envisioning the future impact of the newly inaugurated memorial, the Prime Minister challenged the institution to cultivate a new generation of youth who prioritize the nation and the marginalized above their personal ambitions. “We must mold such youths here for whom serving Mother India and addressing the sorrows of the poor remain their absolute life goal,” asserted Modi.
Contrasting the enslaved state of Indian youth during Swami Vivekananda’s era with their current global dominance, the Prime Minister underscored how the philosopher viewed youth education as the ultimate foundation for nation-building. “The Indian youth who were once bound in chains are today actively giving incredible momentum to the development of the entire world,” observed Modi.
Detailing the spectacular technological and economic achievements driven exclusively by the younger generation, the Prime Minister credited the youth for propelling the nation to possess the fastest-growing economy, the third-largest startup ecosystem, and the second-largest mobile manufacturing capacity globally. “Today, India is writing glorious new chapters in AI, Deep Tech, Space Technology, and Innovation purely by the sheer capability of our youth,” affirmed Modi.
Referencing a recent historic milestone in the aerospace sector, the Prime Minister celebrated the successful launch of a privately developed rocket as a prime example of the unstoppable momentum driving the nation’s digital and manufacturing revolutions. “Whether it is the Aatmanirbhar Bharat or Make in India campaign, the driving force behind its ultimate success is exclusively the strength of India’s youth,” noted Modi.
Outlining the government’s responsibility to harness this demographic dividend, the Prime Minister stressed that youthful capability only translates into national power when backed by the right opportunities, clear direction, and robust educational infrastructure. “The capability of the youth becomes the ultimate strength of that nation only when they get the absolute confidence to dream big on their own soil,” asserted Modi.
Highlighting a massive, decade-long expansion in higher education infrastructure, the Prime Minister presented staggering statistics, noting the establishment of over 650 new universities, 14,000 colleges, numerous premier institutes like IIMs and IITs, and a near doubling of medical capacity to 1,40,000 MBBS seats. “I am incredibly happy that today the total number of educational institutions is continuously and rapidly increasing across India,” observed Modi.
Detailing a comprehensive modernization of the educational framework, the Prime Minister praised the National Education Policy for actively realigning academic structures with 21st-century requirements. “On one hand, we are heavily modernizing the infrastructure, while simultaneously molding the entire education system according to modern needs,” affirmed Modi.
Addressing the transformation of primary and secondary schooling, the Prime Minister highlighted the development of over 14,000 PM SHRI schools and the establishment of 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs designed to foster early scientific innovation. “Education must not remain merely bookish; we must ensure innovation and a deep scientific temperament actively develop in children,” asserted Modi.
Connecting Swami Vivekananda’s vision of equality with modern educational reforms, the Prime Minister celebrated the systematic dismantling of discriminatory barriers, proudly citing the admission of daughters into Sainik Schools and the NDA, alongside the revolutionary introduction of professional degree courses in native languages. “That there should be no discrimination in education and opportunities has today become the absolute unified vision of the country,” noted Modi.
Emphasizing the critical role of physical fitness and discipline in character building, the Prime Minister championed the government’s aggressive promotion of a national sports culture through expansive initiatives like the Khelo India Games. “Today, sports are being officially recognized and actively promoted as an incredibly important stream of our nation-building process,” affirmed Modi.
Correlating the massive expansion of grassroots sporting infrastructure with international success, the Prime Minister noted a distinct improvement in the nation’s global competitive performance, driven largely by emerging talents from small towns. “Our exceptional players are setting brilliant new records, and our daughters are constantly increasing the immense pride of the country,” observed Modi.
Drawing direct inspiration from the newly inaugurated memorial to serve higher societal purposes, the Prime Minister issued a series of civic challenges to the local youth. “Like Swami Vivekananda ji, this Viveka Smaraka actively gives us the profound inspiration to work tirelessly for a much larger purpose,” remarked Modi.
Praising the city for its consistent ranking among the nation’s cleanest urban centers, the Prime Minister urged the citizens to adopt a rigorous, mission-mode approach toward environmental conservation and water preservation. “We must absolutely work in a strict mission mode to aggressively save every single drop of precious water,” asserted Modi.
Celebrating the release of the Kannada translation of the Valmiki Ramayana, the Prime Minister appealed to the youth to resist the distractions of the smartphone era and actively reconnect with the state’s rich literary heritage. “Can we strongly inspire the younger generation to disconnect from screens and connect deeply with our glorious Kannada literature?,” asked Modi.
Championing the concept of ‘Vocal for Local’, the Prime Minister urged citizens to actively support indigenous artisans by purchasing local handicrafts, silk, and sandalwood products for their gifting needs. “Ensuring our gifts are made by the sweat of an Indian will beautifully promote our culture while providing vital financial assistance to local families,” affirmed Modi.
Concluding his address with a powerful call to action, the Prime Minister entrusted the current generation with the ultimate responsibility of realizing Swami Vivekananda’s grand vision for the nation, expressing absolute certainty in the memorial’s future role as a beacon of youth empowerment. “I firmly believe that Viveka Smaraka will continuously act as a powerful energy source to help the current generation fulfill this massive responsibility,” asserted Modi.