Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed more than 51,000 appointment letters to newly appointed youth in various government organisations at the 20th Rozgar Mela.
Addressing the newly recruited employees through video conferencing, the Prime Minister said India’s Yuva Shakti is at the heart of the country’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
PM Modi said the appointment letters mark a new beginning for thousands of young people and their families, recognising both the hard work of the candidates and the sacrifices made by their parents.
Welcoming the new recruits to the Government of India, the Prime Minister said they have a special responsibility towards fellow youth and citizens. He noted that the talent and skills of India’s young generation have earned global confidence, with expectations from Indian innovators, entrepreneurs and youth.
Focus on Global Opportunities
Referring to the recently concluded BRICS Summit, PM Modi said the government’s approach is to expand international cooperation beyond traditional government-to-government engagement.
He highlighted initiatives such as BRICS CONNECT and the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal, which seek to connect entrepreneurs, farmers, women and youth with international partnerships.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Free Trade Agreements with around 40 countries, saying they are opening new markets and partnerships for Indian entrepreneurs while creating additional career opportunities for the youth.
Focus on Future-Ready Skills
PM Modi said the government is focusing on future-ready skilling through initiatives including the National Education Policy, Skill India Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and apprenticeship programmes.
He also highlighted the PM-SETU scheme, under which 1,000 government Industrial Training Institutes are being modernised with an investment of ₹60,000 crore and greater industry participation.
He said the objective is to ensure that the education and skills of young people keep pace with the changing requirements of the economy.
Startups Expanding Beyond Major Cities
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
He said the country’s startup story is no longer restricted to major metropolitan areas, with roughly half of recognised startups based in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
PM Modi said young people from villages, towns and smaller cities are increasingly developing their own ideas, establishing companies and creating employment opportunities for others.
Push for Private Sector Employment
The Prime Minister highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, with an outlay of around ₹1 lakh crore, aimed at bringing approximately 2 crore youth into the formal workforce for the first time.
Under the scheme, first-time employees can receive an incentive of up to ₹15,000, while employers creating additional jobs will also receive incentives.
PM Modi said employment opportunities increase when the economy grows, investments rise, new industries are established and emerging sectors expand.
He also referred to India’s 7.8 per cent economic growth rate and a 12 per cent increase in investment during the first quarter, while highlighting India’s economic performance amid global uncertainties.
PM Modi Calls for Citizen-Centric Governance
Addressing the new government employees, the Prime Minister called for continuous reforms and urged them to simplify processes, improve ease of doing business and support innovation.
He said every administrative decision should help remove obstacles for citizens, encourage new ideas and facilitate employment-generating investment.
PM Modi also urged the new recruits to ensure that the difficulties they themselves experienced before entering government service are not faced by other young people.
He emphasised the importance of lifelong learning and technological skills, referring to the Mission Karmayogi framework. He said the Karmayogi Prarambh module has been designed specifically for new recruits, while more than 1.7 crore government employees have joined the iGOT Karmayogi platform.
The Prime Minister said public trust is central to effective governance and that the behaviour, efficiency, honesty and sensitivity of government employees directly influence citizens’ experience with the state.
Concluding his address, PM Modi urged the new recruits to follow the principle of “Nagrik Devo Bhava”, emphasising that citizen service is a form of national service.
He said the success of government employees would be measured by their ability to make the lives of citizens easier through their work.
