Youth power, country's greatest capital: PM Modi's message to new appointees
"India, with the world's largest youth population and the largest democracy, holds unique potential to shape the future both domestically and on the global stage. This vast youth power is India's greatest capital, and the government is steadfast in its efforts to convert this capital into a catalyst for long-term prosperity," he said while addressing the Rozgar Mela and distributed more than 51,000 appointment letters to newly appointed youth in various Government departments and organisations via videoconferencing here.
Addressing the gathering, he emphasised that today marks the beginning of new responsibilities for these youth in different departments of the Government of India.
He congratulated the young individuals on beginning their service in various departments, saying that despite different roles, their common goal is national service, guided by the principle of 'Citizen First.'
The Prime Minister also emphasised the "unmatched strengths of India's demographic and democratic foundations."
'Just two days ago, I returned from a visit to five countries. In every nation I visited, the strength of India's youth echoed strongly. The agreements signed during this tour will benefit Indian youth both within the country and abroad,' Modi said.
He further said that various agreements signed during this tour on critical sectors such as defence, pharmaceuticals, digital technology, energy and rare earth minerals will create far-reaching benefits.
'These initiatives will not only strengthen India's global economic standing but also generate meaningful opportunities for young Indians in both manufacturing and services,' he said.
Addressing the evolving landscape of employment, the Prime Minister highlighted that the nature of jobs is undergoing rapid transformation in the 21st century.
Emphasising the importance of innovation, startups and research, he spoke of the growing ecosystem in India that empowers young people to dream big. He shared his personal pride and confidence in the new generation, expressing joy at seeing youth stepping forward with ambition, vision and a strong desire to create something new.
Stating that his government is also focusing on creating new employment opportunities in the private sector, he said that the government has approved a new scheme called the "Employment Linked Incentive Scheme".
Under this scheme, the government will provide Rs 15,000 to young individuals who get their first job in the private sector, he informed.
'In other words, the government will contribute to the first salary of their first job. For this, the government has allocated a budget of approximately Rs one lakh crore. This scheme is expected to help in the creation of about 3.5 crore new jobs,' Modi added.
The Prime Minister stressed on the transformative power of India's manufacturing sector in driving national growth, generating employment and accelerating India's journey towards becoming the world's third-largest economy.
The Prime Minister noted that in recent years, there has been significant strengthening of the 'Make in India' initiative. Through the PLI (Production Linked Incentive) scheme alone, more than 1.1 million jobs have been created across the country.
'Today, electronics manufacturing in India is worth nearly Rs 11 lakh crore, marking more than a fivefold increase over the past 11 years. Earlier, there were only two to four units manufacturing mobile phones in the country. Today, India is home to nearly 300 units related to mobile phone manufacturing, employing lakhs of young people,' he stated.
The Prime Minister also spoke of India's rise as a global leader in defence manufacturing, with output exceeding Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
Modi praised India's emergence as the largest locomotive producer in the world, and the country's strong export performance in locomotives, rail coaches and metro coaches. The automobile sector, he added, has attracted USD 40 billion in FDI in just five years, resulting in new factories, new job opportunities, and record vehicle sales.
The Prime Minister underscored the far-reaching impact of India's welfare initiatives, citing a recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report that confirms that over 90 crore Indian citizens have been covered under government welfare schemes over the past decade. These schemes, he noted, are not limited to welfare benefits alone but have played a crucial role in generating large-scale employment, particularly in rural India.
The Prime Minister elaborated on flagship programmes such as the PM Awas Yojana, under which four crore permanent houses have been built and three crore more are under construction.
'The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which offers over Rs 75,000 per household for rooftop solar installations, is reducing household electricity bills and creating job opportunities for technicians, engineers, and solar panel manufacturers. Namo Drone Didi has empowered rural women by training them as drone pilots,' Modi added.
The Prime Minister pointed that the country is also progressing with its mission to create three crore Lakhpati Didis, and 1.5 crore women have already achieved this milestone.
Listing out various schemes like Bank Sakhi, Bima Sakhi, Krishi Sakhi and Pashu Sakhi that have enabled women to find sustainable employment, he mentioned that the PM SVANidhi scheme has extended formal assistance to street vendors and hawkers, bringing millions into mainstream economic activity.
The Prime Minister emphasised that it is the impact of these numerous schemes that, in just the past 10 years, 25 crore people have come out of poverty.
'Without employment opportunities, such a transformation would not have been possible. This is why today, major global institutions like the World Bank are praising India. India is now being counted among the top nations in the world with the highest levels of equality,' Modi stated.
The Prime Minister described the current phase as a Mahayagya of development, a national mission dedicated to poverty eradication and employment generation and called on the country's youth and new government appointees to take this mission forward with renewed energy and dedication.
The Prime Minister also invoked the guiding ethos of 'Nagrik Devo Bhava' of treating every citizen as divine and extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the new appointees for a bright and meaningful future in public service.
UNI AAB ARN SS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
43 minutes ago
- Hans India
India has huge rare earth metal reserves, but production is low
'Rare earth elements' (REEs) are not actually rare in the Earth's crust, but their extraction and processing are challenging. Hence, making them economically and strategically is more important. India has the fifth-largest REE reserves globally, particularly in coastal and inland placer sands. However, despite these substantial reserves, India's contribution to global REE production is less than one per cent. This is due to limited investment in mining and refining infrastructure, as well as challenges in extracting REEs from low-grade deposits and developing advanced separation and refining technologies, particularly compared to China, the US, and Japan. India possesses significant REE reserves, estimated at 6.9 million metric tons, making it the fifth-largest globally. However, its production remains low, with less than one per cent of global REE output. India is the fifth-largest rare earth resource globally, with significant deposits in the monazite minerals. There are around 13.07 million tonne of REEs, mainly found in the monazite sand, which contains 55-60 per cent total Rare Earth Elements oxide. India's primary REE deposits are found in coastal beach sands, which often contain low mineral content. India's decision to cordon off its rare earth output set the tone for a nervous week in critical mineral markets. New Delhi ordered Indian Rare Earths Limited (unlisted) to halt neodymium exports to Japan, a dramatic break with a 13-year supply pact and a reminder that Chinese licensing controls have given every producer political leverage. Although India mined only 2,900 tonne of neodymium oxide last year, officials now pledge to reserve enough for a future magnet industry and to sweeten domestic processing with incentives. Beijing answered from the shadows. Satellite imagery and local reports show the United Wa State Army—long backed by China—ring-fencing freshly opened dysprosium and terbium-rich deposits in Myanmar's Shan State. Trucks already carry concentrate across the border, offsetting supply lost to fighting farther north and tightening China's grip on the heavy rare earths that temper heat in electric-vehicle (EV) motors and precision-guided munitions. While exploration efforts are underway, particularly in Rajasthan, commercially viable deposits of magnet-grade REEs haven't been verified yet. India lacks the technology and infrastructure for large-scale mining and processing of REEs, leading to reliance on imports, particularly magnets, mainly from China. The Indian government is actively working to develop a self-reliant REE supply chain through the National Critical Mineral Mission and exploration projects. Efforts are being made to develop advanced separation and refining technologies to process REEs domestically, reducing reliance on imports and increasing domestic production.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
23 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh
As many as 23 hardcore Naxalites, including three couples, carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 1.18 crore, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Saturday, a senior police official said. The surrendered Naxalites include 11 senior cadres, most of them active in the Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion no.1, which is considered the strongest military formation of Maoists, the official said. They turned themselves in before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials, citing their disappointment with 'hollow' Maoist ideology, atrocities committed by Naxalites on innocent tribals and growing internal differences within the banned outfit, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said. He said there were nine women among surrendered cadres. The official said Lokesh alias Podiam Bhima (35), Ramesh alias Kalmu Kesa (23), Kawasi Masa (35), Madkam Hunga (23), Nuppo Gangi (28), Punem Deve (30), Paraski Pandey (22), Madvi Joga (20), Nuppo Lachchu (25), Podiam Sukhram (24) and Dudhi Bheema carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each. 'Lokesh was a divisional committee member, and eight others were members of the PLGA battalion no.1 formation of Maoists. The development shows that this battalion is weakening, and its members have been continuously quitting Naxalism due to intensified anti-Naxal operations being carried out by security forces on the Sukma-Bijapur inter-district border,' Chavan said. Four other cadres carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh each, one cadre Rs 3 lakh and seven cadres Rs 1 lakh each, he said. The official said some of the surrendered Naxalities were active in the Aamdai, Jagargunda and Kerlapal area committees of Maoists. All the surrendered Naxalites were provided assistance of Rs 50,000 each and will be further rehabilitated as per the government's policy, he added.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
From farm to retail: How Punjab's farmers process produce into brands –and profit– through direct sales
Hardeep Singh Jatana owns 15 acres of farm land at Jatana Khurd village in Punjab's Mansa district. He has taken an additional 20 acres on lease. On this land, he grows mustard, sugarcane, millets, and wheat. Yet, this farmer has not set foot into a mandi — where farmers sell their produce — in years. Instead, Jatana runs a store at his farm where he offers 225 processed items ranging from wood-pressed mustard oil to medicinal jaggery and millets. Most of these processed items come from produce that he has been growing in his own fields. 'We don't believe in selling raw produce to mandis. Instead, we process it and sell directly to consumers,' says Jatana. In Gurdaspur's village Sallopur, Gurdyal Singh, who owns 18 acres of land, has taken turmeric farming to the next level. Starting with just one kanal (1/8th of an acre) in 2004, he now grows turmeric on 10 acres . Equipped with his own set of machines — including a boiler, elevator, grinder, and packing unit — he processes and packages amba haldi, kali haldi, and regular turmeric varieties. 'The results have been fantastic. We have an outlet at the Kisan Bazaar in Batala and also supply our products through a sales point set up at the government agricultural offices. The products are also available on Amazon,' says Gurdyal, adding that he has several customers abroad. In Ludhiana's Dalla village, Jagtar Singh (45) left his job as a driver in 2020 and took to selling fresh sugarcane juice. He harvests 350 to 400 quintals of sugarcane annually from his two bighas (about 1.25 acres) of land. 'If I supply this cane to sugar mills, I'll earn only around Rs 2 lakh, and after covering expenses, I'd be left with just about Rs 1.25 lakh a year. But by selling juice of the same sugarcane, I earn Rs 1,500 to 2,000 per day. It means this land is giving me an annual income of around Rs 5–6 lakh,' he says Jagtar. Jatana, Gurdyal, and Jagtar are among a crop of farmers who are now bringing about a silent revolution in villages of Punjab. They are among farmers, who are stepping away from the traditional crop and mandi system and charting an independent course — processing and selling their produce directly to consumers. These are not corporate-backed ventures, but small-scale initiatives powered by innovation, self-reliance, and a clear determination to break free from the grip of middlemen. Jatana says a farmer cannot earn much from wheat and paddy. 'If a farmer doesn't take farming seriously, doesn't visit his field daily, and doesn't diversify his crops, he will remain in debt,' Sayas Jatana. 'Earlier, I used to grow narma (cotton) and would sell it in the mandi. But in 2018, I began a new journey. I took 20 acres on lease and started growing sugarcane specifically for processing,' he adds. He processes sugarcane juice into 12 varieties of jaggery and three of shakkar, including medicated versions infused with turmeric, triphala, and flaxseed to aid digestion, relieve constipation, and promote overall health. These products are now so popular that they are only available through advance bookings. 'We produce jaggery from November to April. Our clients pay us in advance during February and March. When the production season begins, we start delivering their orders,' he adds. Besides sugarcane, he cultivates mustard, kodra, kangni (millets), pulses, and wheat — completely avoiding paddy. 'I grow 15 different crops and sell all of them after processing at my store. After processing the rates go up by 2–3 times than what mandis offer,' says Jatana. Gurdyal agrees with Jatana. His turmeric fetches up to Rs 300 per kg, while the medicinal varieties like amba and kali haldi (both used as part of cure for several diseases, like swelling, digestion, joint pain, etc. ) sell for Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per kg. 'If farmers process and sell their produce directly, returns can double, triple, or even more,' he adds. From one acre, he harvests about 130 quintals of raw turmeric, which yields around 17 to 20 quintals of turmeric powder after processing. This translates into an income of around Rs 5–6 lakh per acre. After expenses, his profit comes to Rs 3–5 lakh per acre. 'If I were to sell raw turmeric in the mandi, the profit would be very low,' he adds. In the same fields, after harvesting turmeric in February, he grows pulses between March and May. Pulses, a two-month crop, yield around 50 quintals. After processing, he sells them at market rates— about Rs 120 per kg — whereas the mandi price is almost half. 'That's why I prefer direct selling,' he says proudly, adding that he is completely debt-free. Another inspiring story comes from Pharwahi village in Barnala, where Ravdeep Singh has been practicing organic farming since 2011 on his six-acre plot. He grows a wide variety of crops including wheat, basmati rice, fruits, vegetables, millets, and oilseeds using a smart multi-cropping cycle. Every Saturday, he and a few other farmers from his district participate in a direct-to-consumer weekly market in Barnala. 'Seventy per cent of our perishable produce and 100% of our dry ration is sold there. I've cleared my entire debt with such farming practices,' says Ravdeep, a postgraduate in Defence Studies. He has built a steady market for basmati rice and wheat flour through direct packaging and consumer outreach, bypassing the mandi system entirely. Managing the sugarcane juice business with his 19-year-old son Harbandeep Singh, Jagtar says processing is essential to profitability. 'It's all about quality and consistency. We've kept it traditional, and that's what customers love,' he says At Lakhowal village in Ludhiana, farmer Amarinder Singh Punia too has embraced processing to boost his income. Of the 18 acres he owns, he cultivates wheat and paddy on 14 and dedicates the remaining four acres to organic farming, growing kitchen essentials like pulses, turmeric, onions, garlic, and vegetables. 'I don't sell my wheat at the mandi or at the MSP. Instead, I process it into flour and sell it directly, earning much more than the government support price,' he says. Since 2017, he has been marketing his produce under the brand name UPJ Farm Products, which includes a range of processed items like wheat flour and cold-pressed oils. Most of these farmers insist on diversification too. For instance, Jatana maintains a 3-acre prawn farm and a 3-acre forest plot to promote biodiversity. 'I've developed a five-acre model farm that can serve as a blueprint for small and marginal farmers. Five friends can jointly cultivate all crops grown in Punjab on this land, by properly barricading it and assigning fixed working hours. If they sell their own produce, I can confidently say they will enjoy a respectful income, mental peace, mutual learning, and even joy in farming,' he asserts. Apart from turmeric and pulses, Gurdyal also grows Basmati and other crops on his remaining eight acres, all of which he sells directly to consumers under his own brand name, Agri Brand. He also practices beekeeping, which he started in 1999 with just five boxes. Today, he manages 350 boxes and sells around 50 quintals of honey annually. 'Farmers need to diversify and get involved in processing to some extent if they want to receive the true value of their produce,' he stresses. In 2015, Gurdyal also formed a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), which now has around 450 farmers attached. These farmers are now selling their produce directly through the FPO instead of mandis and are getting better prices. These farmers' efforts go beyond mere survival — they represent a holistic approach to agriculture that values soil health, water conservation, local processing, and building direct relationships with buyers. They are not only reshaping their own economic prospects but also the broader narrative of farming in Punjab.
