India: Modi promises free exam coaching, AI training for youth after protests

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on India's Independence Day announced training in artificial intelligence (AI) skills as well as free online coaching for young people for competitive exams just weeks after youth-led protests over exam paper leaks and recruitment irregularities.

Speaking at the Red Fort in New Delhi on Saturday, Modi said the coaching initiative would help ease the financial burden on poor and middle-class families.

"The competition surrounding coaching classes has become a huge burden for middle-class families," Modi said, adding that students could stay with their families while preparing for exams.

Modi's promise comes as last month the country was rocked by protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities in competitive exams.

The protests ended with the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighting widespread concerns over access to education and jobs.

10 million youths to train in AI skills

The Indian prime minister also said 10 million young people would receive training in AI skills over the next year, in a move to appease the nation's youth that forced the Modi government to face its biggest challenge since coming to power in 2014.

Modi also said India will have eight more semiconductor chip plants in the coming years and five nuclear reactors which will generate 100 gigawatts of power by 2047.

In a speech lasting more than an hour, Modi outlined a seven-point growth and reform framework aimed at making India a developed country within 20 years. The plan focuses on manufacturing, agriculture, technology, defense and sectors including tourism and handicrafts.

Modi warns against 'intellectual Naxals'

At the same time, Modi also took aim at the latest enemy of the state — the "intellectual Naxals."

This was a reference to India's Naxal movement, which waged a guerrilla-style insurgency against the government, particularly in central and eastern India, leaving thousands dead and injured over nearly 60 years.

Modi said his government had defeated the armed movement but warned that the fight against the "Naxal mentality" remained, as its adherents looked for "opportunities to create violence and unrest."

Modi said these "intellectual Naxals" had to be identified and isolated to connect young people with the mainstream. Modi did not specify who these "intellectual Naxals" were in his speech.

In the past, Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has labelled rights activists, academics and intellectuals, journalists, political opponents, government critics and others with left-wing views as "urban Naxals."

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah

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