Namaskar!
I express my gratitude to Network 18 that you have given me the opportunity to connect with esteemed guests from the country and around the world, as well as your audience through this summit. I am happy that you have linked this year's summit with the aspirations of Bharat’s youth. Earlier this year, on Vivekananda Jayanti, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue was held right here at Bharat Mandapam. At that time, I saw the sparkle of dreams in the eyes of the youth, the strength of their resolve, and their passion for making Bharat a developed nation. If we continue to deliberate at every step the heights we aspire to take Bharat to by 2047 and the roadmap we are following, then ‘Amrit’ (nectar) will definitely emerge. And this ‘Amrit’ will provide energy and direction to the generation of ‘Amrit Kaal’ and momentum to Bharat. I congratulate you on this summit and extend my best wishes.
Friends,
Today, the world’s eyes are on Bharat, and the world’s hopes are also pinned on Bharat. In just a few years, we have risen from being the 11th largest economy to the 5th largest. Despite numerous global challenges, Bharat did not stop; instead, it sprinted forward at double speed. In just one decade, we have doubled the size of our economy. Those who once thought Bharat would move slow and steady are now witnessing a fast and fearless India. And there is no doubt that Bharat is on the path to becoming the world’s third-largest economy soon. Who is driving this unprecedented growth? It is driven by the youth of Bharat—their ambitions and aspirations. Addressing these ambitions and aspirations of young Bharat is now the nation’s top priority.
Friends,
Today is April 8, and in just a day or two, the first 100 days of 2025 will be completed—the first milestone of 100 days in 2025. You will find that the decisions made during these 100 days also reflect the aspirations of the youth.
Friends,
In these 100 days, we haven’t just made decisions—we have laid a strong foundation for the future. We have transformed policies into possibilities. Zero tax on income up to 12 lakh rupees—a major benefit for young professionals and entrepreneurs. 10,000 new medical seats and 6,500 new IIT seats—expanding education and accelerating innovation. 50,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs—igniting the spark of innovation in every corner of the country. Just as one lamp can light many others. Centres of Excellence for AI and Skill Development will give an opportunity to the youth to prepare for the future. 10,000 new PM Research Fellowships will make the journey from idea to impact easier. Just like the space sector was opened up, the nuclear energy sector has also been opened up. Innovation will now get support and not boundaries. For the first time, youth associated with the gig economy will be given the shield of social security. Those who were previously invisible to others are now at the centre of policies and term loans of Rs 2 crore will be offered to SC, ST and women entrepreneurs. Inclusivity is not just a promise, it’s a policy. The youth of Bharat will directly benefit from all these decisions because Bharat will progress only when the youth progresses.
Friends,
In these 100 days, what Bharat has achieved shows that Bharat will neither stop, nor bow down, nor slow down. In these 100 days, Bharat became the fourth country in the world to achieve the capability of satellite docking and undocking. Bharat successfully tested a semi-cryogenic engine. Bharat surpassed the historic milestone of 100 gigawatts of solar capacity. The country set a record by producing 1,000 million tonnes of coal. The National Critical Mineral Mission was launched, and within these 100 days, the decision to establish the 8th Pay Commission for employees was made. It was decided to increase subsidies on fertilizers for farmers i.e., the government prioritized farmers’ concerns. In Chhattisgarh, more than 3 lakh families moved into their new homes simultaneously. Under the Svamitva Yojana, over 65 lakh property cards were distributed. Not only this, one of the world's highest tunnels, the Sonamarg Tunnel, was dedicated to the nation within these 100 days. The Indian Navy was further strengthened with the addition of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vagsheer. The purchase of Made-in-India Light Combat Helicopters for the armed forces was approved. Additionally, a significant step towards social justice was taken with the passage of an amendment bill for the Waqf Act. These 100 days are more than just 100 decisions—they mark the fulfilment of 100 resolutions!
Friends,
The mantra of performance is the real energy behind Rising Bharat. You all know that just two days ago, I was in Rameswaram. There, I had the opportunity to inaugurate the historic Pamban Bridge. About 125 years ago, the British built a bridge there. That bridge witnessed history, endured storms, and suffered severe damage once due to a tsunami and a cyclone. For years, the country waited, people kept demanding a new bridge, but the previous governments remained indifferent. However, when our government came into power, work on the new Pamban Bridge began. And now, the country has received its first vertical lift rail-sea bridge!
Friends,
A country does not progress by delaying projects; it moves forward through performance and speedy execution. Delay is the enemy of development, and we have resolved to defeat this enemy. Let me give you more examples. Take the Bogibeel Bridge in Assam—our former Prime Minister Deve Gowda ji laid its foundation stone in 1997. When Vajpayee ji came to power, he initiated the construction work. After Vajpayee ji’s government lost elections and Congress took over, the project was stalled. Lakhs of people in Arunachal and Assam suffered due to this delay, but the government at that time was indifferent. In 2014, when you gave us the opportunity to serve, we restarted the project, and in just four years, the bridge was completed by 2018. A similar example is the Kollam Bypass Road Project in Kerala. It had been stuck since 1972—imagine, 50 years! Whether it was the LDF or the UDF, no government worked on it for half a century. But once we came to power, we completed it within five years.
Friends,
Discussions about the Navi Mumbai Airport began as early as 1997, and it was approved in 2007. However, the Congress government did not take any action on it. When our government came into power, we accelerated this project, and now the day is not far when commercial flights will start operating from Navi Mumbai Airport.
Friends,
The list of achievements I am sharing also includes the new Sansad Bhavan and Bharat Mandapam.
Friends,
April 8 holds great significance for another reason—it marks 10 years of the MUDRA Yojana. Many of the young people sitting here must have heard stories from their parents about how, in the past, even opening a bank account without a guarantor was nearly impossible. People needed guarantee, someone’s recommendation, and getting a bank loan was nothing short of a dream for an average family. What about the poor families, SC/ST, OBC communities, landless labourers, and women who had nothing to offer as collateral but were willing to work hard? Did their dreams not matter? Were their aspirations any less? Did their hard work have no value? Our MUDRA Yojana addressed these aspirations and gave youth a new path. In the last 10 years, a staggering 52 crore loans have been disbursed under the MUDRA scheme—without any collateral! And it's not just about scale, but also about speed. By the time a traffic light turns from red to green, 100 MUDRA loans are approved. By the time you finish brushing your teeth, 200 MUDRA loans get sanctioned. By the time you listen to a song on the radio, 400 MUDRA loans are sanctioned. These days, instant delivery apps are popular—well, in the time it takes for your food delivery to arrive, 1,000 MUDRA loans are sanctioned. And by the time you finish watching an episode on an OTT platform, 5,000 small businesses are built through MUDRA.
Friends,
The MUDRA Yojana did not ask for guarantees—it placed trust in people. You’ll be happy to know that 11 crore people received their first-ever loan to start their own business or become self-employed because of MUDRA. These 11 crore individuals are now first-time entrepreneurs! In other words, 11 crore new dreams have taken flight in 10 years. And do you know how much money has reached villages and small towns through MUDRA? It is about 33 lakh crore rupees—33 lakh crore rupees! That’s not even the GDP of many countries. This is not just microfinance—this is a mega transformation at the grassroots!
Friends,
A similar example is the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Program. Previous governments labelled over 100 districts as backward and left them to struggle on their own. Many of these districts were in the Northeast and tribal belts. Ideally, the government should have sent its best talent to these districts, but instead, officers were posted there as a punishment transfer. This was the old mind-set—"Let the backward remain backward." We changed this approach and declared these areas as Aspirational Districts. We focused on better administration and implemented our flagship schemes in mission mode. We monitored the growth of these districts based on multiple parameters. And today, many of these Aspirational Districts have surpassed the state average, and some have even gone beyond the national average in development. The biggest beneficiaries of this transformation are the youth of these districts. Now, young people there confidently say, "We too can achieve success. We too can move forward." Today, many renowned global institutions and journals have recognized and praised the Aspirational Districts Program. Inspired by this success, we are now working on 500 Aspirational Blocks. When growth is driven by aspirations, it becomes both inclusive and sustainable.
Friends,
For any nation to grow rapidly, it is essential to have peace, stability, and a sense of security. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore envisioned चित्त जेथा भयशून्यो, उच्च जेथा शिर i.e., “Where the mind is without fear, and the head is held high.” But for decades, Bharat witnessed a rise in fear, terror, and violence. And the youth of our country suffered the most. Young lives were consumed by violence, separatism, and terrorism. In Jammu & Kashmir, entire generations of youth were lost in the cycle of bombs, guns, and stone-pelting for several decades. Yet, the governments that ruled for decades lacked the courage to put an end to this. But through our government’s strong political will and sensitive approach, the situation has transformed there. Today, the youth of Jammu & Kashmir have embraced development.
Friends,
Look at the issue of Naxalism—at one point, more than 125 districts of the country were engulfed in violence and terror. 125 districts! In areas where Naxalism began, the government's presence practically ended. A large number of young people suffered due to this Naxalism. We made serious efforts to bring these youths back into the mainstream. In the past 10 years, over 8,000 Naxalites have surrendered and abandoned violence. The number of Naxal-affected districts has now been reduced to less than 20. Similarly, in the Northeast, there was an endless cycle of separatism and violence for decades. But in the last 10 years, our government has successfully signed 10 major peace agreements. During this period, more than 10,000 young people have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream of development. The true success isn’t just that thousands have given up weapons—the real victory is that thousands of young lives, their present and future, have been saved.
Friends,
For decades, there was a tendency in our country to sweep national challenges under the political carpet instead of addressing them. But now, the time has come to face these issues head-on. We cannot allow the 21st-century generations to bear the burden of the political mistakes of the 20th century. One of the biggest obstacles in Bharat’s growth has been the politics of appeasement. Recently, the Waqf laws have been amended in Parliament, which was widely discussed in your networks as well. The debate around Waqf laws is rooted in appeasement politics. But this political appeasement is not new—it was sown during our freedom struggle itself. Think about it—many countries gained independence before, alongside, or after Bharat. But how many of them had to accept partition as a condition for freedom? How many countries were divided at the time of their independence? Why was Bharat the only one? Because at that time, the lust for power was placed above the national interest. The idea of a separate nation was not that of ordinary Muslim families—it was propagated by a handful of extremists. And some Congress leaders nurtured this idea so that they could establish themselves as the sole claimants to power.
Friends,
In this politics of appeasement, Congress gained power, some radical leaders gained strength and wealth, but the real question is—what did the common Muslim get? What did the poor, Pasmanda (marginalized) Muslim get? They received neglect. They were left uneducated. They suffered from unemployment. And what did Muslim women get? They were subjected to injustice, like in the Shah Bano case, where their constitutional rights were sacrificed at the altar of extremism. They were told to remain silent, pressured not to ask questions. Meanwhile, radicals were given a free licence to suppress women's rights.
Friends,
Appeasement politics is completely against the core principle of social justice in Bharat. But Congress turned it into a tool for vote-bank politics. The 2013 amendment to the Waqf Act was nothing but an attempt to please radical elements and land mafias. The law was shaped in a way that made it seem as though it stood above the Constitution itself. The Constitution was meant to open the doors to justice, but this Waqf law narrowed those very paths. And what were the consequences? Radicals and land mafias became emboldened. In Kerala, Waqf claims were made on the lands of Christian villagers. In Haryana, gurdwara lands were dragged into disputes. In Karnataka, farmers' lands were brought under waqf claims. In many states, entire villages and thousands of hectares of land got entangled in NOCs and legal troubles. Be it temples, churches, gurdwaras, farms, or even government lands, people lost trust in the security of their own property. Just one notice was enough to throw landowners into a frantic search for documents to prove their own ownership. A law that was supposed to deliver justice ended up spreading fear—what kind of a law was this?
Friends,
I congratulate the country’s Parliament for passing a remarkable law that serves the interests of all communities, including the Muslim community. This law will now ensure the protection of the true spirit of Waqf while also securing the rights of poor and Pasmanda Muslims, women, and children. The debate on the Waqf Bill was the second longest debate in our parliamentary history in the last 75 years. The Bill was discussed for 16 hours across both Houses, with the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) holding 38 meetings, engaging in 128 hours of discussions, and receiving nearly one crore online suggestions from people across the country. This shows that today, democracy in Bharat is not confined to the four walls of Parliament. Public participation is making our democracy even stronger.
Friends,
Today, the world is rapidly moving towards technology and AI. That’s why it’s more important than ever to focus on our softer sides—art, music, culture, and creativity—because we do not want to prepare robots, we want to prepare humans. We must ensure that as technology advances, we should enhance humanity and sensitivity through creativity. Entertainment is already one of the world's largest industries, and it will continue to expand in the future. In this era, we have launched WAVES—the World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit—to celebrate and encourage art and culture. You might have heard the term WAVES multiple times today when Rahul was speaking, but it is not that this initiative was launched in 2014; it evolves every decade with new forms and innovations. Today, I am talking about WAVES -- the World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit. This platform has been created. Next month, Mumbai will host a grand edition of WAVES, and this will become a regular global event. As you all know, movies, podcasts, gaming, music, AR, and VR make up a vibrant and creative industry in Bharat. With the mantra "Create in India," we are taking this industry to the next level. WAVES will encourage Indian artists to create content and go global. The “Create in India” will also invite artists from around the world to Bharat. I urge Network18 to help popularise this platform of WAVES. There are many youths who are involved in creative domains. I also had the opportunity to meet some of them. I also encourage them to be part of this movement. Let the WAVES reach every home and every heart! I am confident that you will make this happen.
Friends,
Through this summit, Network18 has brilliantly showcased the creativity, vision, and determination of the youth of our nation. It is commendable how you have engaged young minds, encouraging them to think about national issues and suggest solutions. The most significant achievement is that you have not just made them listeners but partners in transformation. Now, I urge universities, colleges, and research institutions across the country to take the engagement of this summit forward. The insights and suggestions that have emerged should be documented, studied, and presented for policy making. Only then will this summit not remain just an event but become a force of impact. Your enthusiasm, ideas, and participation are the true energy behind Bharat’s resolve to become a developed nation. Once again, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in this event, especially to our young participants.
Thank you very much!
