My colleagues in the Union Cabinet, Shri Rajnath Singh Ji, Sanjay Seth Ji, CDS- General Anil Chauhan Ji, Chiefs of the three Armed Forces, Defence Secretary Shri, DG NCC, other guests and my dear friends from NCC! Best wishes to all of you on the occasion of NCC Day. Today, around 150 cadets from 18 friendly countries are also present here among us. I welcome all these cadets. I also congratulate the colleagues of Mera Yuva Bharat, MY Bharat, associated with the country.
Friends,
Being selected for the Republic Day parade is an achievement in itself. This year's parade was also special because our republic has completed 75 years. Friends, these memories will stay with you for life. In the future, you will definitely remember that when the Republic completed 75 years, we took part in the parade. My heartiest congratulations to those friends who have received the Best Cadet Award. I recently got the opportunity to flag off many NCC missions here. Such efforts of NCC connect India's heritage with youth aspirations. I wish all the best to the cadets involved in these missions.
Friends,
NCC was established during the period when the country got independence. In a way, the journey of your organization started even before the Constitution of the country. In the 75 years of the Republic, the Constitution of India always gave democratic inspiration to the country and explained the importance of civic duties. Similarly, NCC also always inspired the youth of India to build the nation and explained the importance of discipline to them. I am satisfied that in the past years, the government has done a lot of work to increase both the scope and responsibility of NCC. NCC has been expanded in our border areas, the districts adjoining the sea border.
Today, NCC has reached more than 170 border talukas and nearly 100 coastal talukas of the country. I would also like to congratulate the three armies. You took the responsibility of specially training the young NCC cadets of these districts. Today thousands of youth living on the border have benefited from this. We are also seeing the result of reform in NCC in the number of cadets. In 2014, the number of NCC cadets was approximately 14 lakh. Today this number has reached 20 lakh. It is a matter of pride that there are more than 8 lakh girl cadets, our daughters. Today our NCC cadets are playing an important role in disaster management. NCC cadets are also flying their flag in the world of sports. I am proud that NCC is the world's largest uniformed youth organisation.
Friends,
You are going to determine the development of India and the world in the 21st century. The youth of India are not only a force for India, but also a force for global good. Today the world is accepting this. Recently a report has been published in the newspapers. What has been told in it is very important. In the last decade, the youth of India have created 1.5 lakh start-ups and more than 100 unicorns. Today more than 200 big companies of the world are led by people of Indian origin. These companies are contributing millions of crores of rupees to the global GDP, helping to change the lives of crores of people. Indian scientists, Indian researchers, teachers of India are also accelerating the progress of the world. That is, be it any sector, it is difficult to imagine the future of the world without the youth power of India, without the talent of India. And that is why I call all of you a force for global good.
Friends,
Be it a person or a country, its strength increases when it overcomes unnecessary obstacles. I am satisfied that in the last 10 years, we have worked to remove all the obstacles that the youth of India faced, whatever they were. This has increased the strength of the youth of India, the strength of the country. In 2014, you would have been 10 or 12 or 14 years old, just ask your family what the situation was earlier, for example, attestation of documents. Earlier, whether it was admission, examination, recruitment, filling any form, one had to get the documents attested by a gazetted officer, and there used to be a lot of running around in this. Our government removed this difficulty of the youth, and trusted you, now you can verify your documents by self-attesting. Earlier, the youth used to face a lot of difficulties in applying for scholarships, getting scholarships. There used to be a lot of manipulation in the scholarship money, the money did not go to the children's accounts. Now the single window system has eliminated all the old problems. Earlier there was another big problem regarding the selection of subjects. If you took a subject while studying after the board, then it was difficult to change it. Now the new National Education Policy gives you the flexibility to change subjects as per your wish.
Friends,
There was a time 10 years ago when young people could not get bank loans easily. Banks used to say that if you want a loan, first give some guarantee. In 2014, when the people of the country gave me the opportunity to serve as the Prime Minister, I said, I will take the guarantee for the youth of my country. We started the Mudra Yojana which gives loans without bank guarantee. Earlier, loans up to Rs 10 lakh were available without guarantee. Now in the third term of the government, we have increased it to 20 lakhs. In 10 years, we have given more than 40 lakh crore rupees under Mudra loan. Lakhs of youth like you have started their business by taking help from this loan.
Friends,
Another important issue related to the future of the youth is the electoral system of the country. Just two days ago, we celebrated National Voters' Day. Many of you have become first-time voters. The purpose of Voters' Day is that the maximum number of voters should participate and use their right. Today, the world's biggest elections are held in India, but another aspect of this is that elections keep happening in India every few months. After independence, it used to happen for a long time when Lok Sabha and Assembly elections used to be held simultaneously. But then this pattern broke, the country has suffered a lot due to this. In every election, the voting list is updated, a lot of work is done, and you must have seen that our teachers are often put on duty in this, due to which studies are affected, preparations for exams are affected. Due to frequent elections, there are also difficulties in governance. Therefore, a very important debate is going on in the country these days. Everyone is giving their views on this subject and this deliberation is very necessary in democracy, everyone should express their views, this is necessary, and what is debate - One Nation One Election. Lok Sabha and Assembly elections should be held together, and every 5 years when the time is fixed, it should be held. So, there will be relief from the new works that get stopped in between.
Today, I especially request the youth of India, I request the NCC cadets, I request the volunteers of MY Bharat, I request the NSS comrades, wherever we are, we should conduct this debate, take the debate forward, lead the debate, we should participate in this debate in large numbers. This is a subject directly related to your future. Even in a country like America, the date of formation of a new government is fixed, there elections are held every four years. In your own college or school also, the student council elections are completed in one go. Just think, if elections keep happening every month, will it be possible to study in a university or college? Therefore, you should lead the debate on One Nation-One Election; there should be a nationwide discussion so that the country can decide to move in the right direction.
Friends,
Today, the world of the 21st century is changing very fast. Today, the demand of time is that we also have to move forward at a very fast pace. All of you, the youth of the country, have a big role in this. In every sector, in every field, whether it is the field of art, research, innovation, you have to create new energy with your innovative ideas, creativity. Another such important field is politics. The youth of our country should come in the field of politics as much as possible, come with new suggestions, come with new energy, come with innovative ideas. This is the need of the country today. That is why I have said from the Red Fort that one lakh youth should come into politics. What is the power of youth, we have also seen this during the Vikas Bharat: Young India Dialogue. Lakhs of youth from across the country have given their invaluable suggestions, expressed their views for the creation of a developed India.
Friends,
During the freedom struggle, people of every profession in the country had set their only goal – the freedom of the country, and the youth participated in it with great enthusiasm, made sacrifices, and spent their youth in jails. Similarly, in this Amrit Kaal, we have to keep only one goal – developed India. The criterion of every decision of ours, the criterion of every work, should be a Developed India. And for this, we have to always remember our Panch Pranas. Pancha Prana means – we have to make a developed India, we have to get freedom from every thought of slavery, we have to be proud of our heritage, we have to work for the unity of India, and we have to perform our duties honestly. These Panch Pranas are the ones who give direction to every Indian, they are the inspiration of every Indian. The wonderful cultural performances that you have given now also reflect this. The feeling of one India – the best India is a great strength of the country. The Maha Kumbh that is going on in Prayag these days, there too this reflection of the unity of the country is visible. Therefore, this Maha Kumbh is a Maha Kumbh of unity. This unity is necessary for the progress of the country.
Friends,
You also have to always keep your duties in mind. A grand and divine developed India will be built on the foundation of duties.
Friends,
Today when I have come amongst you, I am seeing your zeal and enthusiasm, I had written some lines at one time, those lines are coming to my mind today, I had written at one time-
असंख्य भुजाओं की शक्ति है, हर तरफ देश की भक्ति है
तुम उठो तिरंगा लहरा दो, भारत के भाग्य को फहरा दो
कुछ ऐसा नहीं जो कर ना सको, कुछ ऐसा नहीं जो पा ना सको
तुम उठ जाओ, तुम जुट जाओ
सामर्थ्य को अपने पहचानो, कर्तव्य को अपने सब जानो !
Friends,
Once again, I wish you all the best for your bright future and many thanks to you all. Say it with me-
Bhaarat maata kee jai.
Bhaarat maata kee jai.
Bhaarat maata kee jai.
Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram
