Highlights of Narendra Modi’s address to students ahead of board examinations

The interaction, titled ‘Pariksha par Charcha,’ saw the Prime Minister answer questions about self-confidence, concentration and relationships with parents.
In an interaction in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered advice to students who were due to appear for the board examinations. The Prime Minister also answered questions through the Narendra Modi app and TV channels airing the programme.

Here are the highlights of the session

– He began the session saying that this isn’t a programme by Narendra Modi or the Prime Minister, but of the crores of students across the country.

– A student from Delhi ask about coping with nervousness and loss of self-confidence despite proper preparation. You’ve worked hard, and so have your parents and teachers, Mr. Modi. He quote Vivekananda saying that even if you worship 33 crore gods, unless youhave confidence in yourself, all those gods will not help. He self-confidence comes only with effort. He relate the story of Mark McMorris, the Canadian snowboarder who won a bronze in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics after recovering from a coma. He ask students to think of themselves as their examiner to boost self-confidence.

– The next question from a class X student on retaining concentration while studying. People think that concentraion is something to be learnt. If we observe ourselves we will realise that we concentrate on certain things very well — like when we listen to music, watch a video or talk on the phone with a friend. What is it we concentrate on and why? Take that reason and apply it to your studying. In those activities where both the mind and the heart are synchronised, they become a part of life, Mr. Modi

– Another student, from Kendriya Vidyalaya, asked a question about parental pressure. The Prime Minister answered that students have to understand their parents. “Once the understanding is there that parents are there for us, and working hard for us, then it becomes better. Always remember what every parent sacrifices for the well-being of the child.” He said that children’s achievements have become a status symbol for parents, and asked parents not to compare their children with others.

– The next question was on distractions during study. “If you want to focus, then you have to learn to de-focus,” Mr. Modi said. He urged students to do what they love to refresh themselves.

– A student asked about yogasanas to deal with examination-related stress. Another student also asked about emotional quotient being as important as IQ. Mr. Modi said that EQ helps people take risks and inspires them. “EQ gives a sense of mission,” he said. Explaining that while yogasanas have specific benefits, he asked students to take up the asana that they like the best. He also stressed the importance of sleep.

– A student from the Northeast asked about the role of teachers in preparing students for exams. Mr. Modi spoke about the guru-shishya parampara and the pivotal role that teachers play in shaping a student.