Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon India’s youth to take ownership of the country’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, stressing that the goal is both achievable and deeply connected to individual responsibility, discipline, and national pride.
Interacting with young participants, the Prime Minister explained why the year 2047 has been set as the target for a “Viksit Bharat.” He said the milestone marks 100 years of India’s independence and coincides with a crucial phase in the lives of today’s youth. “When India completes 100 years of independence, you will be 35, 40, or 45 years old — the most productive and decisive phase of your life. The work we are doing today is for your future,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from India’s freedom struggle, PM Modi recalled how leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh dedicated decades of sacrifice to achieve independence. He said that if such immense sacrifices could secure freedom, collective effort today can certainly transform India into a developed nation.
The Prime Minister urged young citizens to adopt five key commitments, including skill development, self-belief, fulfilling civic duties, and prioritising Swadeshi products. He stressed that true self-reliance begins with changing mindset and overcoming colonial-era thinking. Citing everyday examples, he encouraged people to consciously choose Indian-made products, even suggesting making a list of daily-use items to gradually replace foreign goods with domestic alternatives.
Highlighting civic responsibility, PM Modi emphasised cleanliness, discipline, and healthy living as essential duties of citizens. “A clean country is not made by cleaners alone, but by citizens who refuse to create filth,” he said, urging zero compromise on cleanliness in homes, neighbourhoods, and public spaces.
The Prime Minister also spoke extensively on artificial intelligence, calling it a powerful tool when used wisely. He cautioned against passive dependence on AI and instead encouraged its use for self-growth, learning, and decision-making. AI, he said, should expand human potential rather than replace thinking or effort.
Calling today’s youth fortunate to live in an era of vast technological opportunity, PM Modi urged them to use innovation responsibly. He concluded by asserting that if citizens sincerely fulfil their duties, no force in the world can stop India from becoming a developed nation, and the youth will be the biggest beneficiaries of that transformation.
