Need to scale up efforts to link edu with global economy: PM Modi at post-Budget webinar
Expresses pride in rising number of women in STEM fields | Highlights need for strengthening health infrastructure
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for scaling up efforts to link the country’s educational sector with the global economy, while increasing focus on areas like automation, artificial intelligence and digital economy.
Addressing a post-Budget webinar, Modi said the new education policy provides the foundation for a curriculum that is aligned with market demands and the real-world economy, especially in fields like AI and automation.
Modi also called upon academic institutions to transform their campuses into hubs of industry collaboration and research-driven learning to provide students with essential real-world exposure.
The PM further highlighted the need for strengthening health infrastructure and promoting yoga and Ayurveda. He said medical colleges had been opened in hundreds of districts; and access to healthcare services had been expanded through the Ayushman Bharat scheme and Arogya Mandirs.
He also drew attention to the emerging ‘care economy’ and the rising demand for caregivers globally, urging experts to develop new training models to empower the youth.
“I urge health sector experts present in this webinar to give suggestions for developing new training models and partnerships to boost the training ecosystem in the country,” Modi stated.
The Prime Minister also expressed pride in the increasing number of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for daughters in futuristic technologies.
Calling for a robust research ecosystem that encourages young researchers to innovate and experiment without any barrier, Modi said: “We have to create such a research ecosystem where young researchers get full opportunity to experiment and work on new ideas.”
On the potential of tourism and culture to drive employment, Modi said, “Developing new destinations beyond traditional spots boosts a city’s branding and overall development.” He also urged stakeholders to focus on a holistic approach involving skills, connectivity and community participation.
