Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday participated in the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), describing the milestone as historic for the institution and India’s education sector.
Paying tribute to SRCC founder Shri Ram, Modi said a 100-year-old institution becomes an “ocean of achievements and inspirations”. He recalled SRCC’s journey from a modest establishment in Daryaganj to a globally recognised institution that has produced leaders across fields.
India’s Growth and Rising Confidence
Reflecting on his 2013 speech at SRCC, Modi said its message of dedicating oneself to the nation continued to resonate years later.
Highlighting India’s progress, he said the country had overcome major challenges and was now being recognised globally for its economic growth and policy dynamism. He cited 7.8% quarterly growth despite West Asia tensions and global trade challenges.
Modi also pointed to rising economic activity, saying electricity generation grew 9%, vehicle sales increased by more than 20%, and steel and cement consumption rose by 8% between April and June.
Jan Dhan and Make in India
The Prime Minister highlighted the Jan Dhan Yojana, saying it has brought around 60 crore people into the banking system and helped create the foundation for India’s fintech revolution.
He also cited the progress of Make in India, noting that smartphone exports have crossed ₹2.5 lakh crore, while defence production has reached nearly ₹2 lakh crore. Defence exports, he said, have risen from around ₹600–700 crore in 2013-14 to nearly ₹40,000 crore.
Vision for Viksit Bharat
Modi outlined an ambitious roadmap for Viksit Bharat, including making India a major agricultural exporter, establishing an Indian space station and eventually hosting the Olympic Games.
He urged students to ignore pessimism and focus on creating new opportunities through innovation, entrepreneurship and technology.
‘Dream Bigger, Build Global’
Calling on India’s youth to think beyond existing achievements, Modi encouraged them to build globally competitive companies in consulting, accounting, finance and law.
He said Indians are already leading major global companies and asked why companies built by Indians could not similarly lead the world.
Drawing inspiration from the SRCC crest, the Prime Minister urged young Indians to chart a new course of self-reliance and contribute to building a Viksit Bharat.
“The path to a Viksit Bharat must be paved by our own rapidly rising steps,” Modi said.
