Care economy to create jobs for youth, says PM Modi at post-budget webinar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the fourth post-Budget webinar on the theme “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas – Fulfilling Aspirations of People”, emphasising the role of sectors such as education, skills, health, tourism, sports and culture in fulfilling the aspirations of citizens.

Welcoming experts and policymakers participating in the webinar, the Prime Minister said these sectors act as the main channels through which public aspirations can be realised and therefore require focused attention in the implementation of the Union Budget announcements.

“Fulfilling public aspirations is not just a subject; it is the core objective of this budget and the resolution of this government,” he said.

Speaking about healthcare, the Prime Minister said India is working towards a vision of preventive and holistic health, noting that the country’s health infrastructure has expanded considerably in recent years.

“In the last few years, the country’s health infrastructure has become stronger. Medical colleges have opened in hundreds of districts, and through Ayushman Bharat Yojana and Arogya Mandirs, the reach of health services has been extended to every village,” he said.

He also noted that India’s traditional practices are gaining global recognition.

“Our Yoga and Ayurveda are becoming popular across the entire world,” the Prime Minister said.

Highlighting emerging opportunities in the care economy, the Prime Minister said the rising global demand for caregivers could create large-scale employment opportunities for Indian youth. He urged health sector experts to suggest new training models and partnerships to strengthen the country’s skill ecosystem.

Referring to digital transformation in healthcare, PM Modi spoke about the growing role of telemedicine in improving access to medical services in remote areas. While acknowledging its progress, he said greater awareness and easier access are needed to further expand its benefits.

Turning to education and skills, the Prime Minister stressed the need to align the education system with the demands of the modern economy.

“We must further accelerate the process of linking our education system with the real-world economy. We need to increase our focus on subjects such as AI and automation, the digital economy and design-driven manufacturing,” he said.

The Prime Minister added that India is steadily moving towards an innovation-driven economy and urged academic institutions to transform their campuses into centres of industry collaboration and research-driven learning.

Calling for greater support for research and innovation, he said young researchers must be given the freedom to experiment and pursue new ideas.

“We have to create such a research ecosystem where young researchers get full opportunity to experiment and work on new ideas,” he said.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for women in emerging sectors.

“As we prepare for futuristic technologies today, it is crucial that no daughter is held back due to a lack of opportunities,” he said.

Speaking about sports development, PM Modi said sports are increasingly being viewed as a driver of national development.

“In the last few years, sports have been seen as an important stream of national development. Initiatives like Khelo India have given new energy to the sports ecosystem, and sports infrastructure is being strengthened across the country,” he said.

He said identifying and nurturing young athletes will be essential as India prepares for upcoming international sporting events.

Highlighting tourism and culture as major drivers of employment, the Prime Minister said developing new tourist destinations can enhance city branding and support local economic growth. He stressed the need for trained guides, improved hospitality skills, digital connectivity and community participation to strengthen the tourism sector.

“Trained guides, hospitality skills, digital connectivity and community participation are becoming the pillars of our tourism sector,” he said.

In his concluding remarks, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for stronger synergy between government institutions, industry and academia to accelerate national development.

“With such efforts, the foundation of a developed India will be further strengthened,” he said.