Addressing the youth on the occasion of National Youth Day, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that democratisation of education under the Modi Government is indeed the true realisation of Swami Vivekanand's dream for India's youth.

The Minister was the keynote speaker at the National Youth Conclave commemorating Swami Vivekanand's birth anniversary, organised by Hans Raj u College at Vigyan Bhawan.

The event was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, former Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, senior academicians, educationists, and a large number of students.

Referring to the transformation in the education sector over the last 11 years, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 reflects Prime Minister Modi’s vision of liberating students from rigid academic structures. He said that flexible entry and exit options and multidisciplinary learning have ended the era where students were forced to remain “prisoners of subjects”, restoring autonomy and dignity to education.

Highlighting the democratisation of opportunities, the Minister said that the Modi Government has consciously expanded the meaning of employment beyond government jobs. He cited flagship initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, and PM SVANidhi Scheme, which have enabled millions of youths, women and traditional artisans to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. He added that this ecosystem has ensured that opportunities now reach small towns, villages, and first-generation learners.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s economic rise mirrors this youth-centric transformation, with the country moving from the 11th to the 4th largest economy globally. He also highlighted India’s position among the world’s top three startup ecosystems, noting that a substantial number of startups are led by women, many from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, reflecting inclusive and grassroots innovation.

Emphasising India’s growing innovation capacity, the Minister said the number of patents filed has risen sharply, with a majority now coming from Indian residents educated and trained within the country. This, he said, signifies a decisive shift from brain drain to brain gain and reinforces India’s emergence as a global knowledge hub.

Invoking Swami Vivekananda’s belief that nations survive and rise on the strength of their core values, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India’s civilisational resilience lies in combining spiritual depth with scientific temper. He urged students to recognise the unprecedented opportunities of this era and prepare themselves to contribute meaningfully to the vision of a developed India.

Concluding his address, the Minister said that while being born in this transformative period may be incidental, but making oneself worthy of it is a conscious responsibility. He emphasised that institutions, policymakers, and educators must collectively nurture the capacities of youth, who will shape India’s journey towards 2047.

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