PM Modi Cites 650 New Universities, Doubling Of Medical Seats Since 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted the expansion of India's higher education and medical education infrastructure during his Independence Day address, stating that the country had added nearly 650 new universities over the past decade. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day, Modi also pointed to the government's introduction of a new education policy after a gap of 35 years.

Modi said India had witnessed a significant increase in the number of universities over the period following 2014. He compared the figures from the previous decade with the current situation, noting that there were fewer than 350 universities between 2004 and 2014, while nearly 650 new universities had been added over the subsequent 10 to 12 years. The Prime Minister presented the expansion as part of the broader changes taking place in India's education sector.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the expansion of medical education. He said the number of medical seats had more than doubled since 2014, increasing from around 400 seats before 2014 to nearly 850 seats currently. Modi cited the increase while outlining the government's efforts to expand opportunities for students seeking professional and higher education in India.

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Modi also pointed to the National Education Policy introduced by his government, noting that India had gone 35 years without a new education policy. He linked the policy with the wider transformation of the education system and efforts to provide young Indians with greater opportunities. The Prime Minister's remarks placed education among the key areas of development highlighted in his Independence Day address.

The Prime Minister further noted that India was increasingly emerging as a destination for foreign universities. He said arrangements had been made to enable Indian students to obtain foreign degrees while remaining in the country. The move, he indicated, would give students access to international academic opportunities without necessarily requiring them to travel abroad.

Modi's Independence Day address therefore placed emphasis on expanding educational infrastructure, increasing medical education capacity and opening India's higher education sector to greater international participation. He presented the addition of universities, expansion of medical seats and introduction of a new education policy as major developments in the country's education landscape over the period since 2014.

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