Modi Announces AI Training for 10 Million, Free Exam Coaching

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide initiative to train 10 million young Indians in artificial intelligence skills over the next year and to provide free online coaching for competitive examinations, in a major Independence Day address focused on youth empowerment and technological advancement.

Speaking from the Red Fort on Saturday during India's 80th Independence Day celebrations, Modi placed young people at the center of the country's development goals. He stated that in the journey toward becoming a developed nation, youth have a massive role to play and will be both the greatest enablers and beneficiaries of that progress.

The AI skilling program represents a significant digital push to democratize access to cutting-edge technical education beyond major cities. Modi said the goal is to ensure India's youth can lead in the AI era. The free online coaching initiative is designed to relieve financial pressure on families, particularly the poor and middle class, who face burdensome costs from private tutoring centers. Modi noted the social pressure parents feel, saying, "Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching class, they are not a...