{
  "id": 7517526,
  "title": "Lead, put the country first: Sitharaman to Gen Z",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/lead-put-the-country-first-sitharaman-to-gen-z",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-15T09:00:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ask-what-you-can-do-for-india-not-what-india-did-for-you-fm-sitharaman-to-gen-z-gen-alpha/articleshow/134256902.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman encouraged young graduates, known as Gen Z and Gen Alpha, to step into leadership roles and put the country's interests first. Speaking at the 36th convocation of Dr M G R Educational & Research Institute in Chennai, Sitharaman urged these young individuals to focus on their contributions to India instead of what the nation has done for them. Addressing over 3,200 students from various academic backgrounds, she emphasized the need for a strong sense of responsibility and civic duty.\n\nSitharaman asserted that the country is prepared to listen to the aspirations of young people but expects them to approach their roles with responsibility and be aware of their role in achieving national goals. She urged the graduates to take up leadership in their respective fields and avoid compromising on national interest, stressing the importance of a secure and strong nation.\n\nHighlighting India's economic resilience amidst global uncertainties such as the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, Sitharaman noted the country's macroeconomic stability and a 7.8% growth rate. She credited strong political leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this resilience. Sitharaman also pointed to Tamil Nadu as a major industrial and technology hub, citing the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam corridor as a key global hub for automobile manufacturing and smartphone exports. The state also hosts around 350 global capability centres, contributing to about 10% of the national total. Coimbatore alone has about 80 such centres, employing 12,000 professionals and with clusters expanding in Madurai and Tiruchirappalli.\n\nSitharaman also addressed the need for increased women's participation in the workforce, mentioning provisions in the Union Budget for the establishment of working women's hostels in every district. She quoted from the Thirukkural, advising graduates to remain humble, avoid arrogance, and approach challenges with patience and measured action.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}