New Delhi, Mar 5
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a Post-Budget Webinar focused on employment, emphasizing investment in people, the economy, and innovation as key drivers of India’s development. He highlighted that the Union Budget 2025 sets a roadmap for a stronger workforce and economic growth by giving equal priority to human capital, industries, and infrastructure.
Investment in People: Education, Skills, and Healthcare
PM Modi underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing education, skill development, and healthcare. He pointed out the transformation of India’s education system, driven by the National Education Policy, digital learning initiatives, and the expansion of IITs. Over 3 crore youth have received skill training since 2014, with the government upgrading 1,000 ITIs and establishing Centers of Excellence to align workforce skills with industry needs. The PM-Internship Scheme aims to provide youth with hands-on learning opportunities, with an emphasis on industry collaboration.
In healthcare, the budget has allocated resources for expanding telemedicine to all Primary Health Centres, setting up daycare cancer centers, and developing digital healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, 10,000 new medical seats have been announced, with a target of adding 75,000 more over the next five years to meet growing healthcare demands.
Economic Growth and Urban Development
PM Modi highlighted planned urbanization as a priority, with the government launching a ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund to improve city infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. He called on private players, particularly from the real estate and industrial sectors, to contribute to the initiative.
Tourism was also a major focus, with plans to develop 50 destinations across India. The government is granting infrastructure status to hotels in these areas to boost tourism and employment. Schemes like ‘Heal in India’ and ‘Land of the Buddha’ will enhance India’s presence as a global tourism and wellness hub.
AI, Startups, and Innovation
PM Modi emphasized the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in India’s economic future. The government is setting up a National Large Language Model to develop AI capabilities and has allocated ₹500 crore for AI-driven education and research. He encouraged the private sector to lead in AI innovation and provide global AI solutions.
The budget also supports startups, with a ₹1 lakh crore corpus fund dedicated to research and innovation. The ‘Deep Tech Fund of Funds’ will drive investments in emerging technologies. Additionally, the government has approved 10,000 research fellowships at IITs and IISc to promote advanced research.
Preserving India’s Knowledge Heritage
The PM announced the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission,’ which aims to digitize over one crore ancient manuscripts, creating a National Digital Repository for global scholars. He also highlighted the establishment of a National Gene Bank to safeguard India’s plant genetic resources for future generations.
India’s Economic Growth and Future Prospects
PM Modi noted that India’s economy has grown by 66% between 2015 and 2025, reaching $3.8 trillion. With continued strategic investments, he expressed confidence in India’s journey toward becoming a $5 trillion economy. He emphasized that collaborative efforts across government, industry, and academia will be crucial in achieving these ambitious goals.
Concluding his address, PM Modi stressed the importance of effective implementation of budget initiatives, encouraging all stakeholders to contribute toward India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
(Source: PIB)
