The North News
New Delhi, March 5
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described this year’s budget as a blueprint for India’s future, emphasizing balanced investments across infrastructure, industries, people, economy, and innovation. Speaking at a post-budget webinar on employment, Modi urged stakeholders to ramp up investments in capacity building and talent development, calling them foundational to economic success.
“The vision of investing in people stands on three pillars: education, skill, and healthcare,” Modi said, highlighting transformative initiatives such as the National Education Policy, expanded IITs, and digital education materials in 22 Indian languages. He said these steps align India’s education system with 21st-century global standards.
Prime Minister Modi noted the government’s skill training programs, which have reached over 30 million youth since 2014, alongside the upgrading of 1,000 ITIs and the establishment of five Centers of Excellence. He emphasized the role of industry and academia in providing youth with practical learning opportunities.
Discussing healthcare, the Prime Minister pointed to the addition of 10,000 new medical seats and the expansion of telemedicine and digital healthcare infrastructure. He said these initiatives would enhance healthcare access and create new employment opportunities.
Modi also unveiled a ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund to drive planned urbanization, with a focus on governance, infrastructure, and climate resilience. He called for private sector involvement, particularly in the real estate and industrial sectors. On tourism, Modi projected the sector’s potential to contribute up to 10% of India’s GDP. He announced plans to develop 50 destinations, grant infrastructure status to hotels, and expand the Mudra Yojana to support homestays.
Modi stressed the transformative impact of artificial intelligence, with the budget allocating ₹500 crore for AI-driven education and research. He encouraged the private sector to lead in providing economical AI solutions.
The Prime Minister celebrated India’s status as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem and outlined a ₹1 lakh crore fund to boost research and innovation. He highlighted the launch of the National Geo-spatial Mission and the National Research Foundation to foster emerging technologies.
Modi also introduced the Gyan Bharatam Mission, aiming to digitize over one crore manuscripts and create a National Digital Repository to share India’s traditional knowledge with the world. He announced the establishment of a National Gene Bank to safeguard genetic resources and food security.
Citing the IMF’s recognition of India’s 66% economic growth between 2015 and 2025, Modi expressed confidence in achieving a $5 trillion economy. He emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration and the ‘Jan-Bhagidari’ model for effective implementation of budget initiatives.
