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Modi urged the graduates to connect their careers with India's development goals over the next three decades, saying national needs should inform their decisions. He said India's pursuit of self-reliance in economic, technological and industrial sectors would form a foundation for "Viksit Bharat", or developed India. "The more empowered the youth of the country are, the more empowered the entire country will be," he said.

The Prime Minister pointed to the space sector, semiconductor manufacturing, drones, startups, digital payments and financial technology as areas where young Indians were already creating new opportunities. He said reforms had opened sectors that were previously restricted, allowing young innovators to participate in areas including space technology.

Modi also highlighted emerging fields including artificial intelligence, data centres, critical minerals, deep-sea exploration, quantum computing and energy security, saying they were waiting for young talent and innovation.

The Prime Minister also called on graduates to contribute to India's research ambitions.

He highlighted the Prime Minister's Research Fellowship and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, which he said had a funding target of up to Rs 1 lakh crore. "Today the country desperately needs new research," Modi said, adding that the government's focus was firmly on research. He also cited the One Nation One Subscription programme, under which research journals are intended to become accessible without additional costs, including to students and researchers in smaller cities. Modi said the country's research ambitions would ultimately depend on the commitment of young people.

The Prime Minister ended his message to the graduates with a warning about comparisons driven by social media. He urged students not to measure themselves against peers based on salaries, placements or startup milestones, saying such comparisons could distract them from their own development. "Life is absolutely not a leader-board; your real race is not with anyone else, it is with yourself," he said.