NEW DELHI, Feb 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted with students during the 9th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha, offering guidance on managing exam stress, building confidence and pursuing holistic development beyond marks.
In a video released today, the Prime Minister was seen addressing students on overcoming stress and anxiety during examinations. He advised students to trust their own unique learning patterns, stressing that no two individuals think, grow or learn in the same way.
Mr Modi said every student has a distinct style of preparation and must have full faith in it, while also listening carefully to suggestions from teachers, parents and mentors. He emphasised that advice should be understood deeply and adapted meaningfully, rather than blindly copied.
He underlined that true confidence emerges when guidance is combined with self-belief. Addressing teachers, the Prime Minister said they must remain sensitive to the learning pace of every student and stay just one step ahead, ensuring guidance feels achievable rather than intimidating.
He noted that goals should be aspirational yet within reach, motivating growth without overwhelming students. Comparing teaching to farming, Mr Modi said teachers must patiently nurture young minds just as farmers prepare the soil before sowing seeds.
Responding to a query by student Savabat Venkatesh on whether skills matter more than marks, the Prime Minister said balance is essential in life. He cautioned that leaning excessively towards either marks or skills creates imbalance, while harmony ensures stability and growth.
Mr Modi explained that skills broadly fall into life skills and professional skills, and students must develop both. He stressed that no skill can be acquired without proper study, observation and practical application of knowledge.
He warned students against faulty preparation methods such as depending only on sure-shot guides, important-question books or question banks. Good teachers, he said, focus on the full syllabus, promote hard work and explain real-life applications to ensure holistic learning.
Emphasising overall well-being, the Prime Minister said physical and mental development are equally important. He urged students to include exercise, yoga, nutritious food, adequate rest and mental strength in their daily routine.
Mr Modi reminded students that life is not limited to examinations and marks. Education, he said, shapes life, while examinations are merely tools for self-assessment. The ultimate goal, he added, should be complete development, not scores alone.
He appealed to students to keep the learner within them active and curious, noting that deeper involvement enhances long-term learning and collaborative learning helps everyone grow. He encouraged students to build strong foundations during school years, saying competitive exams will follow naturally.
Calling creativity vital, the Prime Minister urged students to convert hobbies into practical outputs and share them freely, as feedback fuels innovation and success. He concluded by saying real confidence comes from being truthful to oneself, adding that comfort zones do not shape life—one’s way of living does.
Describing the absence of dreams as a serious mistake, he urged students to dream big, fear less and draw inspiration from biographies.
Pariksha Pe Charcha aims to address exam stress and celebrate examinations as an Utsav, an integral part of life. This year, interactive sessions were held with Exam Warriors in Devmogra, Coimbatore, Raipur, Guwahati and at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi.
The Ministry of Education said over 4.5 crore students, teachers and parents registered for the programme through the MyGov portal. Conceptualised by the Prime Minister, the initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, promoting confidence, positivity and holistic well-being.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Pariksha Pe Charcha inspires crores of learners across age groups. Speaking to the media, he said the Prime Minister’s interaction boosts students’ confidence and guides them towards holistic development.
Calling it a unique initiative, Mr Pradhan said students eagerly wait for the programme every year. In a social media post, he said it has evolved into a nationwide movement that recognises, nurtures and celebrates every child’s individuality.
Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Annapurna Devi, Giriraj Singh, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Jayant Choudhary, among others, listened to the 9th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha in New Delhi. (Agencies)
