Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on young Indians to take an active role in building a developed nation by 2047, placing education, innovation, sporting achievement and social responsibility at the centre of his message.
Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya in Chennai, Modi said the younger generation had the creativity, ability and determination to advance India’s development and help solve global challenges. He encouraged students to pursue ambitious goals, explore fresh ideas and approach their future with confidence. His address linked individual aspirations with national priorities, urging students to see their skills and achievements as contributions to the country’s progress.
Education Expansion Opens New Opportunities
Modi highlighted what he described as a significant expansion of India’s higher education system. He said the number of universities had increased from approximately 750 in 2014 to more than 1,300, while colleges had grown from around 38,000 to over 52,000. He also referred to the expansion of IITs, IIMs, IIITs and AIIMS, saying wider access to institutions was creating additional opportunities for young people.
Discussing the National Education Policy, the Prime Minister said Indian institutions were improving their quality and international standing. According to the figures he cited, India’s presence in QS rankings had increased from 14 universities in 2015 to 52 in the latest rankings.
Sports Careers Feature in India’s Future Plans
The Prime Minister said sports were increasingly becoming a career option, supported by better facilities, specialised coaching and institutional assistance. He referred to India’s preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its ambition to host the 2036 Olympics, saying major sporting events could offer opportunities for emerging athletes. He expressed confidence that young Indians would strengthen the country’s standing in international sport. Modi encouraged students to recognise the possibilities opening up beyond conventional academic careers and to pursue sporting talent with commitment.
Tamil Culture and Social Service Shape Youth Message
Congratulating the Hindu Vidyalaya family and World Hindu Vidya Kendra, Modi recalled the organisation’s beginnings in West Mambalam in 1975 with seven students. He said it had since grown into a network of 15 institutions across Tamil Nadu. He acknowledged Jaigopal Garodia’s contribution and praised teachers, staff, parents and former students for supporting the institution’s educational mission.
Modi also highlighted the students’ fundraising for soldiers, saying their practice of saving one rupee a day had helped raise nearly ₹40 lakh. He encouraged similar participation in disaster assistance, cleanliness programmes and community service. Invoking Thiruvalluvar and Subramania Bharati, he urged students to share Tamil literature and traditions while developing friendships across regional and linguistic boundaries.
The address concluded with a pledge covering a developed India by 2047, self-reliance, a place among the world’s three largest economies, stronger manufacturing, Olympic hosting ambitions and sending Indians to the Moon.
