Modi in Mann Ki Baat: From Flood Relief to Swadeshi Push

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In the 125th edition of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded disaster relief efforts, youth achievements in J&K, the ‘Pratibha Setu’ portal for UPSC aspirants, and called for Swadeshi.

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, August 31, 2025 —Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 125th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, struck a balance between addressing immediate challenges and celebrating inspiring stories from across the country.

Opening with the devastation caused by floods and landslides in several states, Modi expressed grief for the lives lost and praised the NDRF, SDRF, armed forces and local communities for their tireless rescue and relief work. He noted how modern technologies such as thermal cameras, drones, and life detectors aided in the operations.

Turning to Jammu and Kashmir, Modi highlighted two milestones: Pulwama’s first-ever day-night cricket match under the ‘Royal Premier League’ and the Khelo India Water Sports Festival held at Dal Lake in Srinagar. Over 800 athletes, including women, competed in the event. The Prime Minister interacted with medalists Rashmita Sahu of Odisha and Mohsin Ali of Srinagar, praising their determination and dreams of representing India at the global stage.

Modi also announced the launch of ‘Pratibha Setu’, a digital portal designed to connect private employers with thousands of aspirants who cleared all UPSC exam stages but missed the final merit list. He said the initiative would help “bright minds who missed selection by a small margin find new opportunities.”

Emphasizing India’s growing global recognition, the Prime Minister recounted how a German football coach, Dietmar Beiersdorfer, was inspired by Shahdol’s young footballers after hearing about them on his podcast with Lex Fridman. Beiersdorfer has now offered to train select players in Germany, marking a significant milestone for grassroots football in Madhya Pradesh.

The program also spotlighted inspiring individuals, including Jitendra Singh Rathore, a Surat security guard who has collected records of thousands of Indian martyrs, and “Solar Didi” Devki of Bihar, who transformed her village’s farming economy using solar pumps.

On cultural heritage, Modi recalled Operation Polo and Hyderabad Liberation Day, playing a rare archival audio of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He also highlighted recent global tributes to Indian culture, including statues of Maharishi Valmiki in Italy and Lord Ram in Canada, as well as a Ramayana art exhibition in Vladivostok, Russia.

Closing the address, Modi urged citizens to adopt “Vocal for Local” during upcoming festivals like Ganesh Utsav and Vishwakarma Jayanti, stressing Swadeshi products for celebrations. “One mantra – Vocal for Local, one path – Atmanirbhar Bharat, one goal – Developed India,” he reminded listeners.

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