Democratization of education under Modi’s leadership fulfills Vivekananda’s dream: Dr. Jitendra

Jammu: Addressing youth on the occasion of National Youth Day, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the democratization of education under the Modi government is essentially fulfilling Swami Vivekananda’s dream for India’s youth. The minister was the keynote speaker at the National Youth Conclave organized by Hansraj College at Vigyan Bhawan to mark Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. The event was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, former Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, senior educationists, academicians, and a large number of students. Referring to the changes in the education sector over the past 11 years, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 reflects Prime Minister Modi’s vision of liberating students from rigid academic structures.
He said that flexible entry and exit options and multidisciplinary learning have ended the era where students were forced to remain “prisoners of subjects,” restoring autonomy and dignity to education. Emphasizing the democratization of opportunities, the Minister said that the Modi government has deliberately expanded the meaning of employment beyond government jobs. He cited major initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, and the PM SVANidhi Scheme, which have enabled millions of youth, women, and traditional artisans to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. He further stated that this ecosystem has ensured that opportunities now reach small towns, villages, and first-generation learners. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s economic growth reflects this youth-centric transformation, transforming the country from the 11th largest economy in the world to the fourth largest.

He also emphasized India’s place among the top three startup ecosystems in the world, noting that a significant number of startups are run by women, many of them from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, demonstrating inclusiveness and grassroots innovation. Highlighting India’s growing innovation capacity, the Minister said that the number of patents filed has increased rapidly, with the majority now coming from educated and trained Indian residents in the country. He said this reflects a major shift from brain drain to brain gain and further strengthens India’s emergence as a global knowledge hub. Recalling Swami Vivekananda’s belief that nations survive and progress on the strength of their core values, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the strength of India’s civilization lies in combining spiritual depth with scientific thinking. He urged students to grasp the never-before-seen opportunities of this era and prepare themselves to make significant contributions to the vision of a developed India.