By TRH Political Desk
In her address on the eve of Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu says comprehensive reforms will curb unfair means in public examinations and make them more transparent, secure and trustworthy for young aspirants.
New Delhi, August 14, 2026: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is undertaking comprehensive reforms in public examinations to curb the use of unfair means and make the examination system more transparent, secure and trustworthy for the country’s youth.
In her address to the nation on the eve of the 80th Independence Day, Murmu described students as “the architects of India’s future” and called for joint efforts by the government and society to safeguard their present and future.
“Public examinations become gateways to the opportunities for our students,” the President said. “The Government is undertaking comprehensive steps to reform these examinations.”
She said the objective of the reforms is to “completely curb the use of unfair means in public examinations” and make the examination system “more transparent, more secure, and more trustworthy for the youth.”
Youth are India’s most valuable asset: Murmu
Murmu said 65 percent of India’s population is below the age of 35 and described the country’s young population as its “most valuable asset.”
“The youth of our country are talented, committed, and skilled,” she said, highlighting innovative and practical solutions being developed by young people to address challenges at the grassroots level.
The President also cited India’s recent achievements in space exploration, noting that a successful rocket launch was led by a young team with an average age of just 28 years.
She said many young Indians are embracing self-employment and the culture of job creation. The participation of young entrepreneurs, she added, has helped create a strong start-up ecosystem in the country.
“Major global enterprises are impressed by the talent and dedication of Indian youth and entrust them with leadership roles,” Murmu said.
She said such young achievers have enhanced the reputation of India’s youth power globally and strengthened her faith in the country’s “bright and prosperous future.”
New opportunities opening for youth
The President said government initiatives and emerging economic activities are opening a wide range of new avenues for young people.
“By exploring such new opportunities, our young people can embark on new paths to success,” she said.
Murmu also underlined the importance of the physical and mental wellbeing of young people, saying it is a cornerstone of India’s future. She said families and society share the responsibility of motivating the youth to move ahead with enthusiasm.
Sports, she said, are also being adopted as a medium for youth development and nation-building. Under the Khelo India programme, a sports ecosystem is being developed across the country, from the grassroots to the national level.
‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047
Murmu said India is moving towards building Viksit Bharat by the centenary year of Independence in 2047.
She said the resolve is to ensure that the fruits of development reach every individual while embracing India’s rich heritage and the ideals of the freedom movement.
The President highlighted rapid and inclusive development, the harmonisation of heritage and development, and the removal of numerous decades-old obstacles to development as key developments witnessed in the country over the past little more than a decade.
She also highlighted initiatives relating to financial inclusion, food security, healthcare and support for farmers.
India’s youth and the future
Murmu linked the country’s demographic profile and the capabilities of its young population with India’s future development.
She said the participation of young people in entrepreneurship, space exploration, employment creation and other sectors demonstrates their contribution to nation-building.
Her message on examination reform placed particular emphasis on ensuring that young Indians can access opportunities through a system they can trust.
The President said public examinations are gateways to opportunities for students and called for collective action to protect their present and future.
Women, development and national progress
The President also highlighted the growing participation of women in education, sports, entrepreneurship and leadership.
She said more than 10 crore women are members of Self Help Groups and noted that the target of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis had been achieved. India is now moving towards creating three crore new Lakhpati Didis, she said.
Murmu also referred to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, enacted in 2023, saying that its objective of reserving 33 percent representation for women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies would enhance women’s role in leadership and make democracy more inclusive.
Security and national interest
On national security, Murmu referred to Kargil Vijay Diwas and the completion of one year since the launch of Operation Sindoor.
She said the operation demonstrated the capability of the Indian Armed Forces to act with precision and sent a “clear and firm message” to terrorists and those who support them. She also referred to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as a decisive step in the national interest.
Murmu said India’s foreign policy is founded on national interest, with peace, cooperation, dialogue and the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as its pillars.
Concluding her address, the President said the development and wellbeing of every Indian is the real objective of building Viksit Bharat.
Quoting Telugu writer Gurajada Apparao, she said: “A nation is not just its land, a nation is all its people.”
She called for society and government to work together so that people in every village, town and household become healthier, happier and prosperous, and urged citizens to devote themselves to transforming “Swatantra Bharat into Viksit Bharat.”
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