Modi Drops Free Coaching + AI Training for 10 Million Youth After Exam Leak Protests

Speaking from New Delhi’s Red Fort on Independence Day, Modi said the government will provide free coaching for competitive exams and AI skills training to 10 million youth over the next year [220755][220360]. The move aims to ease the financial burden on millions of families struggling within the country’s fiercely competitive education system [220216].

The announcement comes after months of demonstrations, particularly in northern India, where job seekers accused officials of leaking test papers and manipulating hiring processes [220360]. The protests erupted after the question paper for the country’s medical school entrance exam was leaked online, and at least 20 young people took their own lives after officials announced a retest [216624]. The education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, resigned last month after intense pressure from student protesters who called themselves the “Cockroach Janata Party” [216624].

Modi did not mention the protests directly, but his pledge appears designed to reassure young voters ahead of upcoming state elections [220360]. The free training will be delivered online, making it available to students in remote areas [220360]. Experts say the plan’s success will depend on internet access and the quality of the AI curriculum [220360]. The government has not yet released a timeline or budget for the initiative [220360].

The AI training initiative signals an effort to position India as a global hub for emerging technologies [220755]. However, observers note that the announcement lands at a time when public trust in the government is strained, particularly among younger voters who have taken to the streets in recent months [220755]. Modi also repeated his promise of turning India into a developed nation within two decades [219678].