Page 27 - NIS English 01-15 September, 2026

th Independence
Day Celebrations
COVER STORY

Youth Power and

The Digital Revolution

From Startup India to AI skilling, PM Modi called the youth of the country, from the
ramparts of the Red Fort, the greatest force and greatest beneficiary of Viksit Bharat...

n The youth have a very important role to play in Foreign universities are also now coming to Bharat.
the journey towards a Viksit Bharat; the greatest n We have handed over more than 10,000 Atal
beneficiary of a Viksit Bharat will also be the youth. Tinkering Labs to young children.
n Under the Startup India initiative, there are now n Before 2014, Bioeconomy had a turnover of ₹60,000
more than 2.5 lakh registered startups across the crore; today, it has reached ₹20 lakh crore.
country. The Government has announced an n In 2009–10, only 1.5 lakh electric vehicles were sold;
Innovation Fund of Rs 1 lakh crore. in 2025–26, 25 lakh electric vehicles have been sold.
n Private startups in Bharat, led by young people with n We have achieved success in moving towards the
an average age of 28, launched their satellites and manufacture of Made-in-India aircraft; the Made-
rockets, succeeding in their very first trial. in-India defence transport aircraft, the C295, has
n One crore youth to be trained in AI skills over the already completed a successful flight.
next year, enabling them to lead in the global AI era. n The SVAMITVA Scheme through drones is being
n From 2004 to 2014, there were fewer than 350 successfully implemented in villages; around 3.25
universities; today, with 650 new universities added, crore families have benefited from it.
we are approaching the figure of 1,000. n To ease the burden on middle-class families, we have
n Before 2014, there were only around 400 medical decided to provide free online coaching for young
colleges; today, there are nearly 850 medical colleges. people preparing for various examinations.

“There was a time when
the world viewed India’s
economy as high-risk.
Today, those very same
people and institutions state
with great confidence that
the reform momentum is
strengthening our economic
fundamentals.”

(Excerpt of the speech from the ramparts of the
Red Fort on Independence Day 2018)

Picture from Independence Day 2018 Sep 01-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 25