‘One University’: Modi govt steps up Gen Z outreach

The Modi government is rolling out a nationwide initiative aimed at connecting Union ministers directly with students across universities, sources familiar with the plan revealed to PTI. Dubbed the 'One Day, One University' program, this initiative seeks to engage with students, gather their perspectives on pressing issues affecting the nation, and discuss welfare schemes specifically tailored for young people.

Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya have been tasked with coordinating this outreach effort, which would see a minister visiting a different university each day. The University Grants Commission oversees approximately 1,300 universities nationwide, including central and state institutions, with the government's latest outreach effort targeting these key educational hubs.

The move comes amid heightened student activism, notably protests over the NEET paper leak in Delhi and other parts of the country, as well as a police crackdown on demonstrators in Delhi on July 20, leading to a political backlash and the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister. Prime Minister Modi has himself utilized social media platforms to engage with students, announcing various youth-focused policies, such as free online coaching, an AI skilling program, a sports talent hunt, and an expansion of civil defense networks during his Independence Day address.

The proposed university outreach program aims to serve as a direct platform for ministers to communicate these initiatives while also collecting feedback from students across campuses.