India to offer free exam coaching, AI training, Modi says

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday that his government would provide free online coaching for competitive exams and train 10 million young people in artificial intelligence skills over the next year.

Modi announced the plans during an Independence Day speech at New Delhi's Red Fort. He said the coaching programme was intended to reduce the financial burden on poor and middle-class families in India's competitive education system.

"We have decided to provide free online coaching for various competitive examinations for our youth," Modi said. He also said that 10 million young people would receive AI skills training in the next year.

The announcement followed nationwide youth-led protests triggered by the leak of a key medical entrance examination paper and other recruitment scandals. The protests led to education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation last month and reflected frustration among young Indians over access to jobs and educational opportunities.

India's parliament has since increased penalties for leaking exam papers.

In the same speech, Modi repeated his government's aim of making India a developed country within 20 years and announced a seven-point growth and reform framework. He said it would focus on manufacturing, agriculture, technology and defence, along with India's soft power through yoga, tourism and handicrafts.

Modi said India should become a trusted global supply chain partner and said the country would have eight more semiconductor chip plants in the coming years. He also said five nuclear reactors would generate 100 gigawatts of power by 2047.