‘One Day, One University’: Modi Government Plans Direct Gen Z Outreach

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in Parliament as Union Minister Kiren Rijiju looks on. The proposed ‘One Day, One University’ programme seeks to establish direct interaction between Union ministers and university students across India. (Photo: File)


One Union minister will visit a university every day to hear students’ concerns, understand their aspirations and explain youth-oriented government programmes

Key Highlights

• Proposed programme discussed at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Ministers to interact directly with students at universities across the country
• Pralhad Joshi and Mansukh Mandaviya assigned responsibility for coordinating the visits
• Outreach will focus on education, employment, skills and youth welfare schemes
• Initiative follows the government’s increased emphasis on Instagram, reels and direct communication with Gen Z

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is planning a nationwide university outreach programme under which a Union minister will visit one university every day to interact directly with students and understand the concerns, expectations and perspectives of Generation Z.

The proposed initiative, tentatively titled ‘One Day, One University’, was discussed at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, according to people familiar with the deliberations.

Under the programme, Union ministers will be assigned universities where they will spend time interacting with students, listening to their views on national and youth-related issues and explaining government schemes concerning education, employment, skills, entrepreneurship and student welfare.

Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya have reportedly been entrusted with coordinating the visits with Union ministers and universities. The detailed schedule and operational framework are expected to be finalised before the programme is formally launched.

The university initiative forms part of the government’s wider attempt to strengthen its engagement with young Indians, particularly Gen Z. It comes after Modi urged his ministerial colleagues to increase their presence on Instagram and use reels and other contemporary formats to communicate more effectively with younger audiences.

From Digital Engagement to Campus Conversations

The Cabinet meeting also reviewed the social media performance of Union ministers. Their reach, audience engagement and digital outreach across Instagram, X and Facebook were discussed, with Modi reportedly emerging at the top of the internal assessment.

The government’s intensified youth engagement follows student protests at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere over the NEET paper leak and broader concerns surrounding education, examinations and employment. Modi has subsequently used social media, particularly Instagram, to communicate directly with students on several occasions.

At a Cabinet meeting in the final week of July, the Prime Minister had advised ministers to pay greater attention to Instagram and strengthen their interaction with younger citizens instead of relying only on conventional modes of government communication.

Youth outreach also occupied a prominent place in Modi’s Independence Day address. He announced initiatives including free online coaching, an artificial intelligence skilling programme, a nationwide sports talent hunt and an expansion of the civil defence network. He also highlighted emerging opportunities for young Indians in manufacturing, space, nuclear energy and semiconductor development.

The proposed university visits could provide ministers with an opportunity to hear student concerns first-hand. Their effectiveness, however, will depend on whether the interactions permit open discussion and whether the concerns raised by students are subsequently reflected in government policy.