New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up 2025 with a heartfelt ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on 28 December, chatting about India’s big wins, from bold security moves to sporting glories, while urging the youth to keep pushing the nation forward.
In his 129th episode, Modi kicked off by reflecting on a year packed with pride. He spotlighted ‘Operation Sindoor’ as a standout moment, showing the world that India stands firm on security. “Images of love for Maa Bharati poured in from everywhere,” he said, recalling how folks showed their devotion in unique ways. The 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’ got a massive response too, with people flooding in messages via ‘#VandeMataram150’.
Sports took centre stage, with Modi beaming about the men’s cricket team clinching the ICC Champions Trophy, the women’s side grabbing their first World Cup, and daughters shining in the Women’s Blind T20 World Cup. The tricolour waved high at the Asia Cup T20, while para-athletes bagged medals at the World Championship, proving grit beats all hurdles. In space, Shubhanshu Shukla made history as the first Indian at the International Space Station. Environmentally, cheetah numbers crossed 30, and events like Prayagraj Mahakumbh and Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir flag-hoisting stirred national pride. Swadeshi fever gripped everyone, boosting homegrown goods amid some natural disasters.
Youth at the Heart
Modi turned to India’s youth power, the world’s big hope in us. He plugged the second ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’ on National Youth Day, 12 January 2026 – Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. “I’ll join to hear your ideas on innovation, fitness, startups, and agriculture,” he promised. A recent quiz drew over 50 lakh participants, with an essay contest seeing Tamil Nadu top and Uttar Pradesh second.
Platforms like ‘Smart India Hackathon 2025’ shone bright. Students tackled 270+ problems from 80+ government departments – think smart traffic, financial frauds, digital arrests, rural cyber security, and farm woes. Over 13 lakh students from 6,000 institutes have joined in 7-8 years, solving hundreds of real issues. “Jump in, young friends,” Modi urged.
Roots and Innovation Blend
In a tech whirlwind, Modi stressed staying rooted. At Indian Institute of Science, ‘Geetanjali IISc’ grew from a tiny music class to a 200-strong cultural hub – Hindustani classical, folk, even online from abroad. In Dubai, ‘Kannada Pathshale’ teaches over 1,000 kids their language amid tech lives. “Kannada Nadu, Nudi Namma Hemme,” he quoted.
Manipur’s Moirangthem Seth, under 40, lit up remote villages with solar panels, powering homes, health centres, fishermen, and women artisans. It ties into ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’, offering Rs 75,000-80,000 per family.
Heritage Unearthed
Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla revealed a 2,000-year-old Buddhist complex in Jehanpora via drones and digs – mounds turned stupas, linked to a French archive photo. In Fiji, Tamil Day at a Raki-Raki school had kids reciting poems and speeches. Back home, Kashi Tamil Sangamam’s ‘Learn Tamil’ drive wowed, with Varanasi kids nailing the language despite Hindi roots.
Freedom fighter Parvati Giri of Odisha, turning 100 in 2026, joined Quit India at 16 and built orphanages. Check the ‘Unsung Heroes’ site for more.
Health and Crafts Alert
ICMR warns antibiotics fail against pneumonia, UTIs due to overuse. “Take only on doctor’s say – medicines need guidance, antibiotics need doctors,” Modi cautioned.
Andhra’s Narasapuram lace, GI-tagged, employs 1 lakh women across 250 villages via 500+ products, backed by government and NABARD. Manipur’s Margaret Ramtharsiem crafts bamboo/wood goods, employing 50+ with markets in Delhi. Chokhone Krichena turned family farming into floriculture, linking communities to markets.
Festive Call
Rann Utsav in Kutch, from 23 November to 20 February, draws 2 lakh visitors for folk culture, dances, crafts, and moonlit white sands. “India’s diversity awaits – go explore,” Modi said.