‘Your worth isn’t determined by marks’: PM Modi encourages students to stay confident during exams
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed students appearing for examinations across the country, urging them to remain confident, manage stress effectively and focus on their efforts rather than their marks.
Speaking during the 131st episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister delivered a special message for students amid the ongoing exam season, including Class X and XII board examinations.
“I shall now address our dear, promising children, those currently taking exams. I hope you must have watched ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ earlier this month and learned something from it. However, I still want to ask: are you stressing too much about your studies?” he said.
Reassuring students, PM Modi described them as “exam warriors” and reminded them that anxiety during exams is natural. “My dear children, you are exam warriors. I’m sure you’re all wholeheartedly preparing for your exams. Yes, it’s natural to have some doubts at such times. Sometimes you wonder if you’ll remember everything or not! Sometimes you wonder if you’ll run out of time. Children of every generation have experienced these feelings; you’re not alone.”
Emphasising that marks do not define a person’s identity or future, the Prime Minister said, “Remember, your worth isn’t determined by your mark sheet. So, trust yourself. Write wholeheartedly about what you’ve studied. And don’t let that one question about what you didn’t understand dominate your mind.”
He encouraged students to maintain open communication with their parents and teachers. “And one more thing: keep talking to your parents and teachers. They recognize you not by your marks but by your efforts; they are happy with your hard work. I am fully confident that you will succeed in your exams and achieve new heights of success in your lives.”
The Prime Minister also referred to the recent edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha, which he described as a platform that goes beyond exam preparation to address stress, expectations and life skills. In a message shared earlier, he said, “Our students, endowed with extraordinary talent, possess the full potential to turn their dreams into reality. The objective of Pariksha Pe Charcha is precisely this: to show how they can make meaningful use of their talent and skills.”
The 2026 edition of the programme expanded its outreach across multiple locations, including Coimbatore, Raipur, Devmogra, Guwahati and New Delhi, with one session notably held aboard a cruise on the Brahmaputra River in Assam.
By reiterating that effort matters more than marks and that self-belief is key, the Prime Minister sought to reassure millions of students that exams are just one milestone in a much larger journey toward success.
