New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a government plan to train 1 crore young people in artificial intelligence (AI) skills over the next year and build a free online coaching ecosystem for competitive examinations, putting youth skills and access to exam preparation at the centre of his Independence Day address.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort, Modi said India’s youth would play a central role in the country’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. “We have decided that in the coming year, we will train 1 crore young people in AI skills,” Modi said, according to reports on his address.
The Prime Minister also announced plans to create a free online coaching ecosystem for competitive examinations. He said the platform would make quality preparation resources accessible to students and reduce the financial burden associated with coaching.
The announcement covers “several competitive exams”, according to reporting on the speech, but the Prime Minister did not specify individual examinations, eligibility criteria, the delivery platform or a launch timeline.
AI skilling push
The proposed target of training 1 crore youth comes against the backdrop of several government initiatives aimed at expanding AI skills and awareness.
The government launched YUVA AI for ALL under the IndiaAI Mission in November 2025. The free, self-paced course introduces citizens to the basics of AI and is available through FutureSkills Prime and iGOT Karmayogi. As of July 8, 2026, enrolment had reached 85.27 lakh, according to a government backgrounder.
The government has also been running the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme for school students in Classes 6 to 12, with courses covering foundational AI skills. As of February 2026, 2.30 lakh students had enrolled in its AI courses, according to government data.
However, it is not yet clear whether the 1-crore youth target announced by Modi represents an expansion of an existing AI-skilling programme or a new initiative. The government has not yet released details on its curriculum, eligibility, certification or implementation structure.
Free coaching for competitive exams
The second major announcement is aimed directly at India’s large competitive-examination preparation ecosystem.
Modi said the government would build a free online coaching ecosystem for competitive examinations, potentially widening access to preparation material for students who cannot afford private coaching.
The announcement comes at a time when coaching has become a significant part of preparation for high-stakes examinations, with students and families often spending heavily on classroom and online programmes. The government has yet to specify which examinations will be covered, who will provide the content, how the platform will operate and when students will be able to access it.
The two announcements form part of Modi’s broader emphasis on youth as a key driver of India’s development ambitions. The Prime Minister said India must accelerate its progress towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, with technology, skills and innovation playing a central role.
For the education sector, the announcements signal two distinct priorities: expanding access to emerging technology skills at scale and reducing barriers to competitive-exam preparation.
