India considers its youth as a demographic dividend as well as a development driver, said the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed India’s youth, stating that they are writing the code of global prosperity.

“The Indian youth is a force to be reckoned with in the unicorn ecosystem all over the world. India today has a strong ecosystem of over 50,000 startups. Out of which, more than 10 thousand startups came up amidst the challenge of the Pandemic,” Prime Minister Modi said, while inaugurating the 25th National Youth Festival in Puducherry, via video conference from New Delhi.

Emphasizing the mantra of New India-- Compete and Conquer, he cited the performance in Olympics and Paralympics and participation of youth in the vaccination drive as proof of will to win and a sense of responsibility among the youth.

The Prime Minister said the youth of India have democratic values along with the demographic dividend, “their democratic dividend is also incomparable”.

The Prime Minister stressed that today, if the youth of India has the charm of technology, then there is also the consciousness of democracy.

“Today, if the youth of India has the ability for hard work, then there is also clarity about the future. That is why what India says today, the world considers it to be the voice of tomorrow,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the young generation at the time of independence did not hesitate for a moment to sacrifice everything for the country.

But today's youth has to live for the country and fulfil the dreams of our freedom fighters. He added that the youth’s ability is not burdened by old stereotypes, he knows how to shake them.

This youth can evolve itself and society according to new challenges, new demands and can create new ones; they have 'Can Do' spirit which is a source of inspiration for every generation, the Prime Minister said.

Commenting on the young profile of the ancient country, the Prime Minister said today, the world looks at India with hope and faith.

“Because, India’s demography is young, and the mind of India is also young. There is youth in India’s potential, and in its dreams. India is young in its thoughts as well as in its consciousness. India’s thinking and philosophy has always accepted change and there is modernity in its antiquity,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that the youth of the country have always come forward in times of need.

“Whenever the national consciousness gets divided, youth like Shankar come and stitch the country in the thread of unity as Aadi Shankracharya. In times of tyranny, sacrifices of youth like the Sahibjaade of Guru Gobind Singh ji guide us even today,” he maintained.

“When India needed sacrifice for its freedom, young revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Netaji Subhas came forward to dedicate their lives to the country. Whenever the country needs spiritual regeneration, sages like Aurobindo and Subramnayan Bharathi come to the scene” the Prime Minister added.