Wider engagement with universities and youth can bring new, unconventional ideas: PM Modi after high-level meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged for increased collaboration between government departments, universities, and young people to introduce novel and innovative ideas into policymaking. During a high-level meeting, PM Modi highlighted the value of a united effort, drawing parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic and the West Asia crisis, where officials from various departments cooperated seamlessly.

The Prime Minister's remarks followed student protests in Delhi and other cities over the NEET paper leak, which culminated in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after PM Modi's social media outreach. During the meeting, Modi discussed the future action plans of different ministries and departments, focusing on areas such as infrastructure, security, external affairs, data utilization, artificial intelligence, research, and innovation.

He emphasized the importance of long-term perspective and urged officials to adopt a broader outlook while addressing immediate concerns. PM Modi stressed the significance of data as a national resource and called for its effective use alongside AI, ensuring human intervention and judgment. He also highlighted the need for enhanced interoperability in data collection and management across various sectors.

The Prime Minister further advocated for advancing India's maritime sector, pushing for a shift from port development to port-led development, and promoting better connectivity between manufacturing and export-oriented units. He encouraged senior officials to engage personally and informally with junior colleagues and to foster stronger networks across departments.