Mantra to stay relevant is to improve skills: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a video message to the nation on World Youth Skills Day on Wednesday. Modi said that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the "culture" along with the "nature of the job" and stressed upon sharpening of skills in order to remain "relevant" in these testing times.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a video message on Wednesday on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, which marks the fifth anniversary of the launch of the Skill India Mission, a pet project of the PM which was launched with an aim to make India's youth job-ready.

Modi said that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the "culture" along with the "nature of the job" and stressed upon sharpening of skills in order to remain "relevant" in these testing times.

"This crisis of coronavirus has not only changed the culture but also the nature of the job. Also, the rapidly changing technology has also left its influence during these times," the Prime Minister said on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day.

"The mantra to remain relevant is - skill, re-skill and up-skill. Skill - Learn a new skill and value add to things. Re-skill - Add to your skill every day by learning something new. Up-skill - Widening your skillset is upskilling yourself," he added while delivering the address at the digital conclave.

Modi's five-minute video message broadcasted at 11.10 a.m.

The Prime Minister also warned that if a person is not "inquisitive" about learning new skills, life may become "mundane."

"Irrespective of your age, learning new skills fills your life with enthusiasm and energy," he added.

A digital conclave was being organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to mark the occasion.

"Skill India offers courses across several sectors which are aligned to the standards recognised by both, the industry and the government, under the National Skill Qualification Framework. The courses help a person focus on practical delivery of work and help him enhance his technical expertise so that he is ready for day one of his job and companies don't have to invest into training him for his job profile," said a government statement.

With inputs from agencies