‘One Day, One University’: Modi govt steps up Gen Z outreach

The Modi government is preparing a nationwide youth outreach programme under which a Union minister will visit a university every day to engage directly with students, hear their concerns and understand their views on issues shaping the country, sources aware of the plan told PTI.

The proposed ‘One Day, One University’ initiative comes amid heightened student activism, including protests over the NEET paper leak issue in Delhi and several other parts of the country.

Under the programme, ministers will be assigned universities where they will hold interactions with students, hear their views on a range of issues and explain government welfare and support schemes, particularly those targeted at young people and students, the sources said.


Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya are learnt to have been tasked with coordinating with universities as well as Union ministers participating in the outreach programme.

Cabinet takes up youth outreach plan

The initiative was also discussed at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, according to the sources.

The scale of the proposed exercise is significant, with the University Grants Commission listing around 1,300 universities across the country. These include 57 central universities and 522 state universities, while the remainder comprise deemed-to-be universities and private institutions.

The government's latest outreach effort comes against the backdrop of growing tensions between students and authorities over examination-related issues. A police crackdown on protesting students in Delhi on July 20 triggered a strong political backlash, with Opposition parties disrupting proceedings during Parliament's Monsoon session.

The protests also had political consequences, with Dharmendra Pradhan resigning as education minister on July 25.

Prime Minister Modi has himself sought to engage with students through social media on several occasions as the protests intensified.

Focus shifts to jobs, skills and opportunities

The government has also sought to place youth-focused policies at the centre of its broader outreach. In his Independence Day address, Modi announced several initiatives aimed at young Indians, including free online coaching, an AI skilling programme, a sports talent hunt and an expansion of the civil defence network.

He also highlighted opportunities for young people across emerging and strategic sectors, including manufacturing, space, nuclear energy and semiconductor production.

The proposed university outreach programme is expected to provide ministers a direct platform to communicate these initiatives while allowing the government to gather feedback from students across campuses.