Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the world would soon recognise aircraft manufactured in India, drawing a parallel with the global praise for Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar. Addressing the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha in New Delhi, Modi said India’s pilots were being discussed internationally and expressed confidence that a similar global focus would soon extend to aircraft made in the country.

Modi referred to Captain Machchhar, the flydubai pilot who has been praised for his actions during an alleged in-flight hijacking on September 30. The Prime Minister said the incident had brought attention to an Indian pilot’s courage and professionalism. He used the example to underline his broader vision of an India whose capabilities, products and innovations gain international recognition.

The Prime Minister said achieving the goals of a Viksit Bharat would require forward-looking policies and sustained effort. He said India faced several challenges but had a large population whose skills, ideas and energy could contribute to addressing them. Modi also urged citizens, particularly young people, to make the most of what he described as the country’s demographic opportunity.

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Outlining his vision for the coming years, Modi said India should seek global leadership across areas including startups, sports, disaster management, genetics, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. He also said an Indian should eventually set foot on the Moon and that Indian universities should feature among the world’s leading institutions. The Prime Minister further stressed the importance of developing solutions in areas such as climate change, water governance and poverty reduction.

Modi also emphasised the expansion of India’s manufacturing and export ambitions, saying products made in the country should earn global recognition and attract consumers internationally. He said agricultural products from India should reach dining tables around the world, while Indian capabilities in areas such as governance and technology should offer solutions that other countries could adopt.

Calling India a nation of numerous aspirations and vast potential, Modi said the country’s collective energy should be directed towards a common national purpose. He urged citizens to dedicate their work, innovation, research and creativity to the country, saying that individual progress and national progress were closely connected.

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