“India’s Youth Aspiration Is Our Greatest Capital”: PM Modi Highlights Power of Jan Bhagidari at Post-Budget Webinar on Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana

Describing the new tradition of Post-Budget Webinars as a powerful example of Jan Bhagidari, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that India's greatest strength today lies in the aspirations of its youth-from villages, towns and cities-who seek to innovate and contribute meaningfully to the nation's future. The Hon'ble PM noted that as India moves towards an innovation-driven economy, the country must continuously modernise its education system to unlock this potential. The Hon'ble Prime Minister also underlined that lakhs of stakeholders, experts and beneficiaries are participating in these consultations, generating practical ideas and solutions that energise the implementation of the Union Budget.

Building on this vision, Hon'ble Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar emphasised that the true measure of a nation's progress lies in how effectively it empowers its most vulnerable citizens. He highlighted that the announcement of Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana in the Union Budget marks an important step toward strengthening employment-linked skills for persons with disabilities. The Minister noted that partnerships among government, industry and civil society will be essential to ensure that skill development translates into real and dignified employment opportunities.

Experts emphasised that market-linked skills for persons with disabilities should align community aspirations with industry demand and integrate them into mainstream education, STEM learning and employment ecosystems. The discussion highlighted the importance of inclusive hiring, accessible training tools, entrepreneurship, digital platforms and AI-enabled remote work opportunities. Participants also stressed structured job-matching systems and accessibility auditing roles for persons with disabilities. The Post-Budget Webinar on Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana, held on 9 March 2026 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, focused on building a demand-driven, industry-linked skilling ecosystem, with special attention to rural areas and specialised vocational training through Centres of Excellence.

Concluding the session, Ms. Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Addl. Secretary, DEPwD, emphasised that the discussions across the five pillars-Passion, Perseverance, Possibilities, Potential and Pilot-clearly underlined the way forward. Skilling initiatives must be demand-driven, accessible and closely linked to employment outcomes. The deliberations, she noted, reflect a shared national commitment among government, industry and civil society to transform disability-inclusive skilling from intent into measurable impact.

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KV/HK