On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told students to be responsible and purposeful with technology. He told them to see Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool to help them learn, not as an alternative to hard work.
The prime minister talked with students at his home in New Delhi during the ninth version of Pariksha Pe Charcha. He talked at length about test stress, personal growth and how technology is changing the role of education.
AI is a helper, not a replacement
Prime Minister Modi told the kids that AI can be a great way to learn, but they needed to be careful and think about how they used it. He said that AI can help students do better in school, not take the place of hard work, discipline, and personal thought. Students were told to use AI for good things, like getting reading ideas or making jobs easier, but to still use their own skills and judgment.
He stressed that relying too much on AI could make people less independent and less disciplined. He told the students that they should use AI as a help, not as a quick way to succeed. The message was clear: AI should add to what we know, not take the place of deep understanding.
AI should not be used as a way to skip learning
PM Modi said that students need to learn how to be clear and use good judgment when using AI because today’s kids have access to digital tools like never before. “You are lucky to have so many technological options that I didn’t have back then. We need to get smarter so we can use them right. AI should make you better at what you do, he said.
The prime minister talked about how AI can be used in a good way. He said that if it is used carefully, AI can help students organise information, study reading material, and gain a deeper knowledge. He warned that depending on AI only for short recaps would make learning harder, while real interaction would make learning and imagination stronger.
Another student from Chandigarh, Ananya Sharma, agreed and said that AI is more of a way to get to something than a goal in itself. It can ease our progress, but it can’t get us to our goal itself. This makes it useful for everyone because I use it to make tech-related apps.
Tech skills and life skills in a balanced way
In addition to giving tips on AI, PM Modi also talked about schooling in a wider sense. He told them that to be truly successful, they need to find a mix between technology and discipline, hard work, and life skills. Exams shouldn’t be the only reason for going to school, rather studying should help people grow as a whole.
He told the kids that they should do well in school and also be artistic, pay attention, and grow as people. It was his opinion that adults should help kids without putting too much pressure on them. They should also teach kids how to use tools like AI in a smart way instead of letting them take over their own learning.
Exams are milestones, not the point of life
Prime Minister Modi also told people not to see school as a hardship or tests as the end goal. Everyone should be involved in education. Exams should never be the main goal, he said, telling them to concentrate on getting better over time instead of short term scores.
He also talked about the importance of teaching in making people well-rounded, saying that real education is more than just studying for tests. When he talked about online habits, PM Modi told students not to use the internet without thinking and emphasized the need for digital discipline. He said that people who bet would face harsh punishments for their actions.
He did say, though, that games can be good for you if you do it right. Gaming is a good skill. It requires speed and helps people grow as people, he said, telling them to choose quality and useful participation.
Overall, the AI talk at Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026 stressed the need to use technology responsibly, have strong study skills, and be able to think for oneself. This helped students not only prepare for tests, but also for a future where AI is used in everyday learning.
