Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a message of responsibility and self-reliance to India’s younger generation while addressing the convocation ceremony of IIT Delhi on Saturday. Speaking before around 3,000 young attendees, Modi said questioning is an important part of democracy and learning, but every citizen must also recognise their responsibility towards the nation.
The address marked Modi’s first public appearance after protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He had earlier addressed Gen Z through social media, but the IIT Delhi convocation was his first public speech to young people following the demonstrations.
Modi told students that life after campus is fundamentally different from student life. According to him, once young people step outside the classroom, they face a different kind of examination—one without a fixed question paper or syllabus.
“Questioning is good, but you must also find the answers yourself,” Modi said, stressing that life constantly presents challenges that require independent thinking and problem-solving. He encouraged students to keep learning and adapting, describing real life as being entirely “out of syllabus.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted the responsibilities of every generation towards the country. He recalled the struggles of previous generations that secured India’s independence and said today’s youth have greater opportunities and resources to contribute to a self-reliant India.
Expressing confidence in the younger generation, Modi said he trusted them and emphasised that their participation would be essential for India’s continued development. He urged young Indians to combine the freedom to question with a strong sense of national responsibility.
