As India's demographic dividend comes into discussion, with Gen Z taking the spotlight with demands concerning the future, the real test lies in whether India can convert youthful aspirations into jobs, skills and economic opportunity.

Addressing a public gathering in Vadodara at an event where development projects worth ₹35,000 crore were inaugurated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government would not stop at simply offering free coaching. It would bring the country’s best teachers onto the platform [free coaching network] and closely monitor the programme. He said the national initiative would provide financial relief to families from poor and middle-class backgrounds.

Saptadhara Vision

Referring to the ‘Saptadhara’ vision announced from the ramparts of Red Fort on Independence Day, Modi said he had promised free coaching for competitive exams and was now taking that commitment forward. The government, he said, would use India’s digital public infrastructure, talented teachers and educational resources to build a free coaching network as an alternative to the high fees charged by private coaching institutes.

As part of the technology pillar and youth empowerment focus within the Saptadhara vision, the government announced a major initiative for free digital coaching.

The Prime Minister also stressed the growing importance of skills in a changing economy. With data centres and artificial intelligence emerging as major growth areas, India is working to secure access to uranium, critical minerals and rare earth elements. In this environment, traditional degrees alone are no longer enough; young people will need continuous skill upgrades.

According to an IMARC report, India's coaching industry grew from US$ 7.2 billion in 2025 to US$ 8.1 billion in just a year. The report highlighted that it could touch US$ 17.8 billion by 2034. This would mean a growth rate of about 10.29%.

Several families have even run into debt due to private coaching.

AI Moves Beyond IT

Modi said AI can no longer be viewed as something limited to the IT sector. A new generation must be prepared to use AI across agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and robotics. AI-skilled youth, he said, can improve manufacturing productivity and drive new startups and innovation.

He also highlighted the broader infrastructure and manufacturing push. Since 2014, India has produced 50,000 modern railway coaches and nearly 2.5 lakh wagons, he said. The PM Surya Ghar scheme has covered 55 lakh families across the country. The completion of the 2,800-km Dedicated Freight Corridor will allow more than 430 freight trains to operate daily, while the time taken to move goods by truck has fallen from around 30 hours to 10–12 hours.