New Delhi Times

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a post-budget webinar on “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas-Fulfilling Aspirations of People”.

Narendra Modi said the Union Budget is focused on fulfilling the aspirations of citizens and emphasised that sectors such as education, skills, health, tourism, sports and culture will play a central role in achieving that objective. Addressing the fourth post-budget webinar titled “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas – Fulfilling Aspirations of People,” the Prime Minister said the government views these sectors as the primary instruments for improving people’s lives and called on experts, policymakers, scholars, entrepreneurs and youth to contribute suggestions for implementing budget announcements effectively.

The Prime Minister said India is pursuing a broad vision of preventive and holistic healthcare, noting that health infrastructure has expanded significantly in recent years with hundreds of new medical colleges being established across districts. Through schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and wellness centres, healthcare services have reached villages across the country. He also highlighted the growing global popularity of yoga and Ayurveda and drew attention to the care economy, saying that as India’s elderly population increases in the coming decade, the demand for caregivers will grow both domestically and globally, creating new skill-based employment opportunities for millions of young people.

Modi also emphasised the importance of telemedicine, noting that people in remote areas are increasingly benefiting from digital healthcare services. However, he said greater awareness and easier access are needed so that more citizens can utilise these facilities.

Highlighting changes in the country’s mindset over the past decade, the Prime Minister said young Indians across villages, towns and cities are eager to innovate and achieve. He described this spirit as the nation’s greatest strength and called for continuous modernization of the education system to harness this energy. Referring to the National Education Policy 2020, he said the policy has laid the foundation for educational reform but stressed the need to keep curricula aligned with evolving market requirements, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, automation, the digital economy and design-driven manufacturing.

The Prime Minister said the government is working to link education with employment and entrepreneurship, pointing to initiatives such as university townships and the promotion of the AVGC sector — Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics. He urged academic institutions participating in the webinar to transform campuses into centres of industry collaboration and research-driven learning to give students greater exposure to real-world applications and strengthen the country’s skill ecosystem.

Speaking on STEM education—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—Modi expressed satisfaction that the number of girls pursuing these subjects is steadily rising in India. He stressed that as the country prepares for future technologies, no girl should be deprived of opportunities and called for stronger efforts to increase women’s participation and create research ecosystems where young innovators can experiment freely.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of sports in national development, saying initiatives such as Khelo India have energised the country’s sports ecosystem and strengthened sports infrastructure. He urged stakeholders to focus on identifying talent from small towns and villages, improving structured financial support for athletes and professionalising sports institutions. With India set to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 and aspiring to host the Olympics in the future, he said early identification and nurturing of young athletes will be crucial for international success.

Turning to tourism and culture, Modi said these sectors generate large-scale employment and contribute to the branding and development of cities and regions. While India possesses a vast number of historical and cultural sites, tourism had long remained limited to a few destinations. The government is now focusing on developing tourist attractions across the country to ensure broader economic benefits.

The Prime Minister also urged participants to discuss a comprehensive strategy for strengthening India’s tourism ecosystem, including training professional guides, enhancing hospitality skills, improving digital connectivity, encouraging community participation and maintaining cleanliness at tourist sites.

Concluding his address, Modi said collaboration between institutions, industry and academia can accelerate national transformation. He noted that post-budget webinars have become an effective platform for gathering practical suggestions from experts, beneficiaries and stakeholders involved in policy implementation. The Prime Minister said the large-scale participation in these discussions reflects growing enthusiasm and confidence in the country’s development journey and expressed appreciation for all those contributing ideas to help build a developed India.

New Delhi Times

New Delhi Times

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