New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the recently concluded free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union as a “historic” and “global gamechanger” that will open countless opportunities for lakhs of Indian youth.
Addressing the annual National Cadet Corps (NCC) Prime Minister’s Rally at Delhi Cantt, Modi said the world is looking at India’s youth with “great trust”, driven by their “skill and sanskar (values)”. He said the agreement with the 27-member EU bloc would benefit Indian startups by improving access to funding and innovation ecosystems, while also boosting the country’s creative economy, including film, gaming, fashion, digital content, music and design.
The Prime Minister said the FTA would create new opportunities for young Indians in research, education, IT and professional services, while accelerating the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission and strengthening the vision of “Make in India, Make for the World”.
Under the agreement, tariffs on over 99% of India’s exports to the EU will be either eliminated or significantly reduced, benefitting sectors such as textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, footwear, engineering goods and MSMEs, Modi said.
He added that the pact would attract fresh investment into India, leading to the setting up of new engineering, electronics, chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing units. It would also create assured markets for agriculture, food processing and fisheries, opening major opportunities for farmers, fishermen and rural youth.
Modi said the FTA directly connects Indian youth to Europe’s job market, especially in areas such as engineering, green technology, design, logistics and advanced manufacturing, creating new avenues across 27 countries.
“Before this, India has signed FTAs with the UAE, Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Oman and Mauritius. From the Red Fort, I had said, ‘Yahi samay hai, sahi samay hai’—this is the right time. For the country’s youth, this is a period of maximum opportunities,” he said, adding that the agreement is “not just a trade pact, but a blueprint for shared prosperity”.
The Prime Minister also expressed grief over a tragic plane crash in Maharashtra earlier in the day, saying the nation stands with the families of those who lost their lives.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Modi praised the role of NCC cadets during a critical phase for national security, highlighting their support to the armed forces, blood donation drives and first-aid services. He said the operation reaffirmed India’s strength, the valour of its armed forces and the growing role of indigenous defence technology.
Emphasising the changing nature of warfare, Modi said modern battles are fought not just with tanks and guns, but also in “code and cloud”, underlining the importance of technological skills among the youth for both economic strength and national security.
He also proposed establishing a new tradition under which NCC, NSS and the My Young India organisation would hold a major event every January 25 to honour first-time voters, saying it would strengthen democratic values and a sense of responsibility among young citizens.
