THE dedication of India’s youth is the greatest strength of ‘Viksit Bharat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday citing recent achievements across diverse sectors ranging from space manufacturing to farming. In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address, the Prime Minister listed the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’, the Constitution Day celebration at the Central Hall, and the hoisting of ‘Dharmadhwaja’ atop the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya among the inspirational developments in November. He also highlighted the inauguration of the world’s largest LEAP engine MRO facility in Hyderabad and the induction of INS ‘Mahe’ into the Indian Navy. “Just last week, Skyroot’s Infinity Campus gave a new boost to India’s space ecosystem.

 

This is a reflection of India’s new thinking, innovation, and youth power,” PM Modi said in the 128th episode of his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address. PM Modi referred to a video on social media of a unique drone competition organised by ISRO. “In this video, the youth of our country, especially our Gen-Z, were trying to fly drones in conditions similar to Mars,” he said, adding that the youth were trying to fly drones solely with the help of cameras and in-built software in the absence of GPS support on Mars. Reiterating his appeal to promote ‘Swadeshi’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he kept the spirit of ‘Vocal for Local’ at the forefront while selecting gifts for world leaders during the recently concluded G-20 Summit. He said, “I always urge you all to carry forward the mantra of ‘Vocal for Local’. Just a few days ago, during the G-20 Summit, when it came to presenting gifts to several world leaders, I reiterated this sentiment, ‘Vocal for Local’. In the gifts I presented to world leaders on behalf of my countrymen, this sentiment was carefully kept in mind.”

 

“During the G-20, I presented a bronze statue of Nataraja to the President of South Africa. This is a wonderful example of Chola-era craftsmanship, rooted in the cultural heritage of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu,” PM Modi mentioned. He added that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney received a silver horse replica that reflects the craftsmanship of Udaipur, Rajasthan, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was gifted a silver Buddha replica displaying the famed silver art of Telangana and Karimnagar. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was given a silver mirror decorated with floral motifs, representing traditional Karimnagar metal craft, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was presented with a brass ‘uruli’ from Mannar, Kerala. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India has set a historic record by producing 357 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural growth. He said that India’s foodgrain output has increased by 100 million tonnes over the past decade, highlighting the nation’s steady strides toward agricultural self-reliance.

 

“India has achieved major success in the agriculture sector. India has set a historic record by producing 357 million tonnes of foodgrains. Compared to 10 years ago, India’s foodgrain production has increased by 100 million tonnes,” PM Modi said. Recalling the Natural Farming Exhibition in Coimbatore, the Prime Minister hailed the youth adopting natural farming. He said, I went to Coimbatore to attend a large conference on natural farming. I was deeply impressed by the efforts being made in South India to promote natural farming. So many young, highly qualified professionals are now embracing the field of natural farming.”