Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address on Saturday came just days after student-led protests demanding reforms in competitive exams and the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, following the NEET-UG paper leak that sparked outrage across the country.India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets children during the Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2026. (REUTERS)From the Red Fort, Modi sought to speak directly to that younger generation, promising greater access to opportunities and resources, including a ₹1 lakh crore mechanism to support their ideas, innovation and capabilities. Track Independence Day 2026 LIVE.The timing of the announcements was notable. Earlier, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, who led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, had urged Modi to dedicate his Independence Day speech to Gen Z and explain what the government was doing for their future.“We want the Prime Minister's speech to be for Gen Z and the youth,” Dipke had said.‘Come forward with your dreams’In his address, Modi directly reached out to young Indians. “I want to tell the youth of the country: come forward with your dreams; we will ensure there is no shortage of resources," he added.The Prime Minister also highlighted a ₹1 lakh crore mechanism aimed at supporting innovation and capabilities among young people.“We have created a mechanism with ₹1 lakh crore to strengthen your ideas, innovation and capabilities,” Modi said.He also pointed to opportunities in research, Digital India and affordable data as tools that have expanded access for the country's youth.Free online coachingOne of the biggest announcements aimed at students was free online coaching for competitive examinations, a move Modi said would reduce the financial pressure on families.“Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams,” Modi said.The prime minister also spoke about the social pressure surrounding coaching, saying parents often feel compelled to send their children to coaching institutes in far away cities.“Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching class, they are not a prestigious family,” he said.Modi said the initiative could help families save “thousands of crores of rupees” while allowing parents to remain closer to their children.“And therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various examinations for the youth of the country,” he said.The government, he added, plans to bring together digital public infrastructure, teachers and existing talent to create a nationwide network for free coaching.Modi’s warning on drug abuseThe prime minister also used his address to flag drug abuse as a growing challenge for young Indians.“My dear youth, drug abuse is becoming a major challenge before the country and its young people.”Calling for a collective effort against substance abuse, Modi said young people's energy and capabilities must instead be directed towards nation-building.“A Drug-Free India should be a collective responsibility for all of us… For the sake of our bright future, our young generation must remain strong and the capabilities of our youth must be channelled towards the service of the nation.”He said MY Bharat volunteers and NGOs have recently launched a 100-week campaign as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat initiative.Take the lead in CensusModi also called on young Indians to actively participate in the ongoing Census, saying even a few hours of their time could make a difference.“Youth, I am asking all of you for your help. I want all the young people to take the lead in this effort.”He stressed that the Census was not simply about counting people but about collecting information that would shape government policies and development plans.“Those one or two hours can become a great source of strength for the nation,” Modi said.The prime minister urged families to carefully verify their details, including names and spellings, before submitting their information. He said technology would allow people to provide Census information through their mobile phones, which could then be verified by officials.He asked young people to ensure their families participate accurately in the exercise.“And therefore, I urge the young people of India to actively participate in this Census exercise.”