Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation, highlights youth’s potential and India’s sporting ambitions, announces nationwide talent hunt for 2036 Olympics

On Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide talent‑hunt campaign for children aged 5‑15 to identify future Olympic athletes, linking the drive to India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in 2030. He launched the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, a Rs 1 lakh crore scheme that will give Rs 15,000 to each youth who secures a private‑sector job and aims to create jobs for about 3.5 crore young people. The government will also provide free online coaching for students preparing for examinations and called for a collective ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ to combat drug abuse among youth.