PM Modi announces free online coaching, AI training for 1 crore youth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on August 15, 2026, two major national initiatives aimed at the country's youth: free online coaching for competitive examinations and a plan to train 10 million young people in artificial intelligence skills over the coming year. Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day, Modi framed the programs as a direct effort to alleviate financial pressures on families and equip young Indians with future-ready capabilities.

The prime minister stated that coaching classes have become a significant financial burden, particularly for poor and middle-class families. He noted the social pressure driving this expenditure, saying, "Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching class, they are not a prestigious family." The free online coaching initiative is intended to counter this trend, with Modi suggesting it would allow families to save "thousands of crores of rupees" currently spent on private tuition. He explained that the government would leverage existing digital public infrastructure, along with available teachers and talent, to build a nationwide network for this purpose. The announcement...