India: Modi promises free exam coaching, AI training for youth after protests

On India's Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced free online coaching for competitive exams and AI skills training for young people. The youth-led protests over exam paper leaks and recruitment irregularities prompted the promises. Speaking at the Red Fort in New Delhi, Modi said the coaching initiative would alleviate financial burdens on poor and middle-class families, allowing students to stay with their families during exam preparation.

The protests, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), ended with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, reflecting widespread concerns over education and job access. Modi also pledged to train 10 million young people in AI skills over the next year. Additionally, he announced the construction of eight more semiconductor chip plants and five nuclear reactors to generate 100 gigawatts of power by 2047.

In his speech, Modi outlined a seven-point growth and reform framework to make India a developed nation within 20 years, focusing on various sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, technology, defense, tourism, and handicrafts. He also addressed the Naxal movement, stating that his government had defeated the armed insurgency but warned that the fight against the "intellectual Naxals" continued, as some sought to create violence and unrest.