New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasised that India’s path to becoming a developed nation lies in achieving self-reliance, urging citizens—especially the youth—to strengthen the “Make in India” movement. Virtually addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of Sardardham Phase-II in Ahmedabad, the Prime Minister said the current global instability offers India a rare chance to become self-reliant and lead the world.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to build skilled manpower, PM Modi noted that under the Skill India Mission, crores of young Indians are being prepared for diverse sectors at a time when many nations are facing ageing populations. “The world needs youth, and India has the capacity to provide it,” he remarked, urging the younger generation to adopt swadeshi products and reduce dependence on foreign goods. “India’s enthusiasm for ‘Make in India’ must grow. The Swadeshi movement will strengthen our future, and the youth must lead it,” he added.
The Prime Minister also underlined the government’s push for job creation and entrepreneurship. He cited initiatives such as the Mudra Yojana and the newly launched PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, which have expanded opportunities for youth across the country. “Today, the number of startups in India has reached nearly two lakh, many emerging from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Under Mudra Yojana, ₹33 lakh crore has been disbursed, enabling lakhs of youth to become self-reliant and create opportunities for others,” he said.
PM Modi stressed that the world now recognises India’s talent and capabilities across fields like healthcare, education, and space, opening new global opportunities for Indians. At the same time, he praised Sardardham for its exemplary work in education and women’s empowerment. Referring to initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Kanya Kelavani, he said society has awakened to its responsibility towards educating girls and ending practices such as female foeticide. “The seeds sown in Gujarat have today grown into a nationwide movement for daughters’ empowerment,” he said.
Concluding his address, PM Modi reiterated that Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) is not just an economic aspiration but a national mission. “India’s strength lies in its youth, in Make in India, and in self-reliance. This is the foundation of a brighter future for the generations to come,” he affirmed.
