India’s Modi woos youth with free coaching, AI training

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans on August 15, 2023, to offer free online coaching for competitive exams, following massive youth-led protests that forced the education minister to resign. The 75-year-old leader made the announcement at the Red Fort in New Delhi, marking India's independence from Britain in 1947.

The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on millions of families struggling with the country's competitive education system. Speaking from the ramparts of the historic monument, Modi stated, "We have decided to provide free online coaching for various competitive examinations for our youth. We have the digital public infrastructure, and we have highly talented teachers and educators."

The announcement came in response to nationwide protests sparked by the leak of a key medical entrance examination paper and a series of recruitment scandals. These protests, culminating in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in late August 2023, highlighted deep frustration among young Indians over access to jobs and educational opportunities.

The protests underscored the immense pressures on students, where admission to government-run colleges remains a sought-after pathway to economic security. The cutthroat competition in the coaching industry has become a significant financial burden for middle-class families, with students spending years preparing, often at considerable cost.

In addition to the free coaching, Modi announced plans to train several million young people in artificial intelligence tools over the next year. "We have decided in the next year, one crore (10 million) youth will be given training in AI skills," he said. The AI training program aims to equip young people with in-demand skills in response to the nation's evolving technological landscape.

Since the protests, authorities have attempted to address the concerns of India's youth, with the parliament increasing penalties for leaking exam papers. Critics argue that the protests posed one of the most significant challenges to Modi's government since coming to power in 2014.