New Delhi, Feb 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday advised students not to let technology dominate their lives, but instead use it as a tool to enhance their potential.
Speaking during the second episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha, Modi observed that mobile phones have become “masters” for some children, who are unable to eat food without using their phones or watching television.
“It means you have become slaves to mobile phones. You must make a firm resolve not to let technology enslave you,” the Prime Minister said while interacting with students from Coimbatore, Raipur, Guwahati and Gujarat.
Urging students not to fear emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Modi said AI should be used to sharpen skills and improve efficiency. “We should try not to make AI or mobile phones our masters. We can use AI effectively and productively,” he added.
The Prime Minister also advised students to practise previous years’ question papers and ensure adequate sleep to perform well in examinations. “When you prepare well, you will not feel tense. A good night’s sleep keeps you energetic and cheerful throughout the day,” he said.
Modi said it was encouraging to see students of Classes 10 and 12 carrying the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 in their minds. Emphasising discipline, he urged the adoption of good habits such as switching off vehicle engines at red lights, avoiding food wastage and reducing unnecessary consumption.
Recalling his own student days, Modi highlighted the role played by teachers and parents in shaping lives. “If you ask any great person, they will say their mother and teachers helped mould their personality,” he said.
On leadership, the Prime Minister said initiative and effective communication were key qualities. “Leadership does not only mean contesting elections. A true leader must be able to clearly communicate ideas to at least ten people,” he said.
The first episode of the ninth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha was aired last week, during which Modi advised students to listen to advice but adopt changes only when they felt ready. He also said education should not feel like a burden and encouraged students to focus beyond marks.
Launched in 2018, Pariksha Pe Charcha began as a townhall-style interaction and has since evolved into one of India’s largest student engagement initiatives. Registrations rose from 38.8 lakh in 2023 to 2.26 crore in 2024 and 3.53 crore in 2025, earning the programme a Guinness World Record. The ninth edition has surpassed previous records with over 4.5 crore registrations. (Agencies)
