In his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to make India a global education hub by awakening Nalanda spirit.
“Recently we have rebuilt Nalanda University in Bihar. Nalanda University has started functioning once again. But in the field of education, we will have to once again awaken that centuries-old Nalanda spirit, we will have to live that Nalanda spirit, we will have to work with great faith in that Nalanda spirit to give new consciousness to the traditions of knowledge of the world,” he said.
In June this year, PM Modi inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University and said that the revival of Nalanda will mark the beginning of the ‘Golden Age’ of India adding that the new campus of the university will give the world an introduction to India’s capability.
“Under the new education policy, we want to develop such an education system in the country that the youth of my country do not have to go abroad, middle-class families do not have to spend lakhs and crores of rupees. We want to build such institutions here where people from abroad come to India,” the Prime Minister said in his address to the nation.
The Prime Minister also urged the nation to work towards a developed nation to be achieved by 2047. He said that 40 crore Indians showed strength and courage to drive away the British decades back.
“Before independence, 40 crore Indians showed courage, dedication and bravery and moved with one motto, and broke the shackles of colonial rule despite all adversaries. Their only goal was freedom. If 40 crore Indians could do this, then 140 CR Indians of my family can do wonders if they take one pledge then despite all challenges we can make a Viksit Bharat by 2047,” PM Modi said.
“I am happy that I got the opportunity to visit Nalanda within 10 days after swearing in as PM for the third time. Nalanda is more than just a name, it’s a mantra, an identity, a declaration that books might get destroyed in fire, but knowledge persists. The revival of Nalanda will mark the beginning of the Golden Age of India. Nalanda’s reawakening, this new campus, will give the world an introduction to India’s capability,” PM Modi had said.
This year’s celebration marks the 11th time PM Modi addressed the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, making him the third Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi to achieve this milestone. The theme for this year’s Independence Day is ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047,’ aiming to drive the Government’s efforts to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.
Economic reforms
Modi said his government is deeply committed to “major reforms”, emphasising that the process of reforms is not driven by compulsion, but by the intention to strengthen the nation.
The Prime Minister said his government has chosen the path of reforms to bring about a change in the lives of the poor, middle class, deprived people, urban population and youth.
“I want to assure the citizens of the country that our commitment to reforms is not limited to the editorials of pink papers. Our commitment to reforms is not for a few days of applause. Our process of reforms is not driven by compulsion, but by the intention to strengthen the nation. Therefore, today, I can say that our path of reforms has become a blueprint for growth. Our reforms, this growth, the change, these are not just topics for debate clubs, intellectual society or experts,” he added.
Fresh blood in politics
One lakh young people who do not have any political lineage will be made public representatives, PM Modi promised. “Their parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, nephews have never been in politics in any generation.. such talented youths, fresh blood. And, whether it is for panchayat, nagarpalika, zilla parishad, or Vidhan Sabha or Lok Sabha… There should be no political history of that family… so that one can get rid of casteism and dynasty politics,” he said.
75,000 new medical college seats
Modi announced plans to add 75,000 new seats in medical colleges in the next five years, aiming to enhance the country’s medical education capacity and address the growing demand for healthcare professionals.
“In the past decade, we have increased medical seats to nearly one lakh. (But) today, around 25,000 youths go abroad every year for medical education. Therefore, we have decided that in the next five years, 75,000 new seats will be created in the medical field,” he said.
According to the Health Ministry, the number of medical colleges in the country has increased by 88 per cent from 2014, when the BJP came to power. There were 387 before 2014 and this has since increased to 731, the government said, adding there were also an increase of 133 per cent seats for postgraduate medical courses, from around 31,000 in 2014 to over 72,000 now.
