Ojha Praises Modi's AI, Coaching Push But Flags Teacher Quality for Success

Noted educator Avadh Ojha has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious announcements for widespread Artificial Intelligence (AI) training and free coaching initiatives for students, made during India's 80th Independence Day celebrations. However, Ojha quickly tempered his praise with a critical caution, emphasizing that the ultimate success of these programs hinges entirely on the quality of teachers and the government's ability to ensure effective, on-the-ground implementation of its policies. The Prime Minister's vision includes skilling one crore (10 million) youth in AI over the next year and establishing a national network for free online coaching to ease the significant financial burden on middle-class families preparing for competitive examinations. This push comes amid recent nationwide frustrations over exam paper leaks and concerns about job opportunities, which even led to the resignation of the education minister, highlighting deep-seated issues within India's education system. Past efforts, like the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) program launched in July 2025, show the government's ongoing commitment, yet the challenge of maintaining teacher quality and equitable access remains. As the government gears up to roll out these transformative initiatives, all eyes will be on how it addresses Ojha's crucial point: moving beyond policy announcements to genuinely develop and retain a skilled teaching workforce. The effectiveness of India's Digital Public Infrastructure in delivering high-quality, free education will be tested, shaping whether these programs truly empower the youth or simply add to the existing educational pressures in the journey towards a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.