World looks at India with great hope due to youth power, says PM Modi in 2025’s final Mann ki Baat

“2025 was also a memorable year in terms of sports. Our men’s cricket team won the ICC Champions Trophy. The women’s cricket team won the World Cup for the first time. India’s daughters created history by winning the Women’s Blind T20 World Cup. The tricolour also fluttered high with pride in the Asia Cup T20. In the World Championship Para-athletes proved by winning several medals that no obstacle can come in the way of zeal and determination,” he said.

India also took a big leap in the field of science and space, he said, lauding Shubhanshu Shukla for becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station.

On efforts related to environmental conservation and wildlife protection, the PM noted that India’s cheetah population has risen to over 30. “In 2025, faith, culture, and India’s unique heritage all came together. The Prayagraj Mahakumbh organised at the beginning of the year astonished the entire world… the Dhwajarohan ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya filled every Indian with pride,” he said.

Calling on citizens to honour lesser-known heroes of the independence movement, the PM announced that the birth centenary of freedom fighter Parvati Giri from Odisha will be celebrated in January next year as the nation marks 77th Republic Day. “Parvati Giri ji… participated in the Quit India Movement at the age of 16. After the freedom struggle, Parvati Giri ji dedicated her life to social service and tribal welfare… She established several orphanages,” he said.

Calling the youth the biggest hope of the nation, Modi announced the upcoming ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’, scheduled for January 12, 2026, coinciding with National Youth Day and Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary.

“The world is looking at India with great hope and the biggest reason for that is youth power,” he said.

Recounting stories of cultural revival, Modi spoke of the ‘Geetanjali IISc’ initiative in Bengaluru, where students and faculty maintain traditions of Indian classical and folk music, and of Kannada Patashale in Dubai, where over 1,000 children are learning to read and speak Kannada. “It’s heartening that Indians abroad are finding new ways to stay connected to their roots,” he said.

He also hailed the growing popularity of Tamil globally, highlighting Tamil Day celebrations in Fiji and the enthusiasm of Hindi-speaking children in Varanasi learning Tamil during the ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ festival.

Warning against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, citing an ICMR report, he said, “Antibiotics are proving ineffective against many diseases like pneumonia and UTI. This is a matter of great concern. Antibiotics are not medicines that should be taken mindlessly. They should be used only on the doctor’s advice. People have started believing that just taking a pill would cure all their problems. This is the reason, diseases and infections are proving to be too strong for these antibiotics. Medicines require guidance, and antibiotics require doctors.”

He also praised Margaret Ramtharsiem of Manipur, who turned local handicrafts into a source of livelihood for dozens, and Chokhone Krichena from Senapati district, for empowering communities through floriculture.

Modi also appreciated Shriram Moirangthem from Manipur for solving a major electricity problem in his remote village by launching a campaign to install solar panels, and as a result, solar power has reached hundreds of houses in his area, even health centres.