New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emphasised the need to strengthen India’s health, education, skill development and sports ecosystem to fulfil the aspirations of the country’s citizens. Addressing the fourth session of the post-Budget webinar titled “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas – Fulfilling Aspirations of People”, the Prime Minister said the Union Budget had been designed with the clear objective of improving opportunities and quality of life for people across the country.
Speaking during the online interaction organised by the government, the Prime Minister described the session as one of the most important discussions in the series of post-Budget webinars. He underlined that sectors such as education, health, tourism, sports and culture play a crucial role in helping citizens achieve their aspirations and contribute to national development.
“The fulfilment of people’s aspirations is not just a subject for discussion. It is the central objective of this budget and the firm resolve of our government,” he said while welcoming experts, policymakers, scholars, entrepreneurs and young participants who joined the webinar.
The Prime Minister noted that suggestions from professionals and stakeholders would be extremely important in ensuring the successful implementation of the government’s budget announcements.
Focus on preventive and holistic healthcare
A significant part of the Prime Minister’s address focused on the transformation of India’s health sector in recent years. He said the government has been working with a broad vision that focuses not only on treatment but also on preventive and holistic healthcare.
According to the Prime Minister, the country’s health infrastructure has expanded significantly in the past decade. Hundreds of new medical colleges have been opened across districts, improving access to medical education and healthcare services.
He also highlighted the role of the Ayushman Bharat scheme and wellness centres in expanding healthcare services to rural areas. These initiatives, he said, have helped bring medical facilities closer to villages across the country.
India’s traditional health systems are also gaining recognition globally. “Yoga and Ayurveda are becoming increasingly popular around the world,” the Prime Minister said, noting that India’s traditional knowledge is contributing to global discussions on wellness and preventive healthcare.
Growing opportunities in the care economy
During the address, the Prime Minister drew attention to what he described as the “care economy”, a sector expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.
He pointed out that India’s ageing population will increase significantly over the next decade, creating a greater demand for caregivers and healthcare support services. At the same time, many countries around the world are facing shortages of trained caregivers.
This, he said, presents an opportunity for India’s youth to find employment in healthcare and related sectors.
“In the coming decade, the number of senior citizens in our country will increase rapidly. Many countries already have a huge demand for caregivers. Therefore, the health sector is creating new skill-based employment opportunities for millions of young people,” he said.
The Prime Minister urged health sector experts to suggest innovative training models and partnerships that could strengthen India’s training ecosystem for healthcare professionals.
Telemedicine gaining trust
The Prime Minister also spoke about the growing role of telemedicine in expanding access to healthcare services.
He said telemedicine has helped many people living in remote and rural areas consult doctors without travelling long distances. Over time, trust in this technology-driven healthcare system has steadily increased.
However, he emphasised that more efforts are needed to raise awareness about telemedicine and make it easier for people to access such services.
“There is still a great need to increase awareness and ease of access in this area,” he said, encouraging stakeholders to work on improving the reach of telemedicine platforms.
Modernising education for the future
Moving beyond healthcare, the Prime Minister spoke about the transformation in the aspirations and mindset of India’s youth.
He said young Indians today are increasingly determined to innovate, explore new opportunities and build successful careers. According to him, this shift in mindset is one of the country’s greatest strengths.
“This new thinking of the younger generation is the nation’s biggest strength and the most valuable capital for a bright future,” he said.
To harness this energy, the Prime Minister stressed the need to modernise the education system and ensure that the curriculum reflects real-world requirements.
He said the National Education Policy (NEP) has already laid the foundation for major reforms in the education sector. The next step, he added, is to ensure that the education system remains updated according to market needs.
Special emphasis, he said, should be placed on emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, automation, the digital economy and design-driven manufacturing.
Linking education with industry
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of connecting education with employment and entrepreneurship.
He pointed out that the country is exploring new models such as university townships, where academic institutions and industry can collaborate more closely.
India is also promoting the A.V.G.C. sector – Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics, which has strong potential for innovation and job creation.
Addressing academicians and university representatives who attended the webinar, the Prime Minister encouraged them to develop campuses as centres of research and industry collaboration.
Such an approach, he said, would provide students with real-world exposure and strengthen the country’s skill ecosystem.
Encouraging women in STEM
Another key issue highlighted during the address was the growing participation of women in STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The Prime Minister said it was encouraging to see more young women pursuing careers in these fields.
“At a time when the world is preparing for futuristic technologies, it is important that no daughter is left behind due to lack of opportunities,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to work towards increasing women’s participation in research and innovation. Building a strong research ecosystem where young scientists can experiment and explore new ideas, he said, would be crucial for India’s future.
Sports as a pillar of national development
The Prime Minister also underlined the role of sports in nation-building.
According to him, youth power becomes national power only when young people are healthy, disciplined and confident. That is why sports have been increasingly recognised as an important component of national development.
He referred to initiatives such as Khelo India, which have helped energise the country’s sports ecosystem and encourage young athletes.
Sports infrastructure, he said, is being strengthened across the country to ensure that talented athletes receive better training and opportunities.
During the webinar, he urged participants to discuss ways of identifying sporting talent from smaller towns and villages. He also stressed the importance of providing structured financial support to athletes and improving the professionalism of sports bodies.
With India preparing to host the Commonwealth Games in the coming years and aspiring to organise the Olympic Games, the Prime Minister said early identification and nurturing of young athletes will be essential.
Tourism and culture as drivers of employment
The Prime Minister also highlighted the economic potential of tourism and cultural heritage.
He said tourism plays an important role in generating employment opportunities and promoting the overall development of regions.
“When tourism grows in a place, the branding of that city or location also increases, and this leads to broader economic development,” he said.
India has a rich heritage with numerous historical sites and cultural attractions. However, for a long time tourism remained concentrated in a few popular destinations.
The government is now working to develop tourism infrastructure across different regions of the country so that new destinations can emerge.
He encouraged experts to discuss ways of strengthening the tourism ecosystem through better training of guides, improved hospitality skills, stronger digital connectivity, community participation and improved cleanliness.
Collaboration for a developed India
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister stressed that collaboration between institutions, industry and academia is essential for accelerating national progress.
He expressed confidence that the series of post-Budget webinars would help generate practical ideas and provide a clear direction for implementing government policies.
The Prime Minister also noted that the webinar initiative has received strong participation this year. Officials informed him that lakhs of people, including experts, beneficiaries and stakeholders, had taken part in the discussions.
He said many useful and practical suggestions were emerging from these interactions, which would help address challenges and bring fresh momentum to development efforts.
Describing the participation as encouraging, the Prime Minister thanked all those who joined the discussions and contributed their ideas.
“I extend my best wishes and heartfelt thanks to everyone who has participated in these webinars,” he said, expressing hope that such collaborations would help strengthen the foundations of a developed India in the years ahead.