PM Modi announces free online coaching for competitive exams, AI training for 1 crore youth
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced free online coaching for competitive examinations and said one crore young people will receive training in artificial intelligence (AI) skills over the next year.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day, Modi said the initiative would help reduce the financial pressure on families who spend heavily on private coaching for competitive exams.
“Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams,” Modi said.
Free online coaching for competitive exams
Modi said coaching expenses had become a major concern for families, with parents often feeling compelled to enrol their children in coaching classes to keep up with expectations around competitive exam preparation.
“Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching class, they are not a prestigious family,” he said.
The prime minister said the new initiative would allow families to save what he described as “thousands of crores of rupees” spent on coaching while also allowing parents to remain closer to their children.
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Explaining the government's approach, Modi said India already has the digital public infrastructure, teachers and talent required to create a nationwide online coaching network.
“We have digital public infrastructure; we have excellent talent and teachers. By bringing these resources together, we are going to build a complete network to provide free coaching to the youth of the country,” he said.
The announcement comes amid continuing concerns over the pressure surrounding competitive examinations and the growing dependence of students on coaching centres.
One crore youth to receive AI training
Modi also announced a major skilling initiative focused on artificial intelligence.
According to the prime minister, one crore youth will be trained in AI skills over the next year.
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The announcement places AI training alongside the government's proposed free online coaching programme as part of a broader push to expand access to educational and career opportunities for young people.
Youth protests put education issues in focus
The announcements come against the backdrop of recent mobilisation by young people over issues surrounding competitive examinations and education reforms.
The country witnessed protests linked to the NEET-UG paper leak and concerns over the coaching system. The “Sansad Chalo” campaign, led by CJP on July 20, also saw protests centred on youth-related education concerns.
The days-long agitation ended with the government conceding the protesters' key demand, including the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
With PTI inputs