Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Saturday marked his first public address after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) staged protests in New Delhi in July 2026, telling the country’s youngsters that the government and the nation have faith in their abilities, and that India needs their contribution to realise the dream of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). 

Addressing the annual convocation ceremony at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in New Delhi, the country’s top political leader urged the youth to view their personal ambitions through the larger prism of national development.

PM Modi said, “We have faith in you. The country needs you.” 

“Every generation has a national responsibility”: PM Modi

Underscoring the role of young Indians in shaping the country’s future, PM Modi said every generation faces challenges specific to its time while also carrying its own national responsibilities. 

He asserted, “You are all aware that every generation faces the specific challenges of its time and also bears its own national responsibility.” Furthermore, he said the decisions taken by today’s youth over the next four decades would have a tremendous bearing on India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation. 

He urged the youth to consider the wider national impact of their choices, asking, “How will this benefit the country? Which of the nation’s needs will this fulfil?”

Thereafter, he highlighted the rapid pace of technological change, saying the global strategic landscape and balance of power were evolving swiftly as technology transformed industries and professions. 

PM says those who keep learning will succeed

The PM cautioned that no one could predict with certainty what the world would look like two or three decades from now. However, he said adaptability and continuous learning would remain paramount to succeeding in an uncertain future. 

He remarked, “The world, technology, industries, and professions will all evolve. But amidst all this, remember one thing: those who keep learning will succeed.” 

Continuing his statements, he emphasised that young people who adapt to technological and global changes would ultimately have an advantage. 

PM imparts Gen Z twist to his address

Imparting a Gen Z flavour to his speech, PM Modi referred to the successful launch of Skyroot’s Vikram-1 rocket and shed light on the opportunities available to young Indians in emerging sectors. He said, “We have opened various ways in which our youth can contribute. New sectors have been opened. I had spoken about the space sector before. Today that very same space sector has become a sky for our youth.” 

He then pointed to the expansion of India’s drone sector, underlining that drones were increasingly being deployed for national security purposes and transportation of medicines. 

PM Modi’s remarks came against the backdrop of recent protests spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar over the controversy surrounding NEET UG 2026 paper leak. The protests came to a halt after the then-Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, stepped down from his post.