‘Teachers made lot of efforts to improve my handwriting…’: PM Modi shares school-life memories

NEW DELHI: As the exam season approach, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen interacting with students in a new and unique approach at Delhi’s Sunder Nursery, ahead of the 8th edition of the ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’.

In a video glimpse shared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Modi engaged with students to discuss their exam-related doubts, stress and anxiety but with laughter, jokes and sweet gesture.

The Prime Minister even shared moments related to his school life. During interaction, he said, “When I was in school, my teachers made lot of efforts in helping me to improve my handwriting. Their handwritings skills may have flourished, but mine didn’t”.

A candid moment from PM Modi’s ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ with students at Sunder Nursery. pic.twitter.com/7ZVF5IxYOh

— Exclusive Minds (@Exclusive_Minds) February 7, 2025

Students present there expressed their happiness upon meeting PM Modi, with one saying, “It didn’t feel like we talked to the Prime Minister, he was just like a friend.” Students from different states were present, whether it was Kerala, Punjab, Bihar or Tripura.

Expressing his fervour, one of the student stated that he came here to express his ‘Dil Ki Baat’ to which PM Modi hastily replied, “I do Mann Ki Baat, you can do your Dil Ki Baat”. Apart from this, the Prime Minister also gave some valuable advice and had insightful conversations with the students on creating a stress-free environment for exams.

The 8th edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction Pariksha Pe Charcha is set to unfold at 11 am on February 10. This year ,’Pariksha Pe Charcha’ will be held in new format and style with more personalities being roped in to address students who are set to sit for the year’s Board examinations.

Among the personalities include Deepika Padukone, Mary Kom, Avani Lekhara, Rujuta Divekar, Sonali Sabharwal, FoodPharmer Revant Himatsingka, Vikrant Massey, Bhumi Pednekar, Technical Guruji and Radhika Gupta who will be part of the journey to empower students.

‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ is back and that too in a fresh and livelier format!

Urging all #ExamWarriors, their parents and teachers to watch #PPC2025, consisting of 8 very interesting episodes covering different aspects of stress free exams! pic.twitter.com/GzgRcqO3py

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 6, 2025

The interactive event of students with PM Modi, organised annually by the Department of School Education and Literacy, will be held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital in a town hall format. Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC), is an initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to transform exam-related stress into a festival of learning, witnessed unprecedented growth in its 8th edition.

Since its beginning in 2018, PPC has evolved into a nationwide movement, garnering a staggering 3.56 crore registrations for its 8th edition in 2025. This also marks a significant increase from the seventh edition, which saw 2.26 crore registrations, reflecting a remarkable surge of 1.3 crore registrations.

Pariksha Pe Charcha has not only become a popular program but has also transformed into a ‘Jan Andolan’ (people’s movement), resonating deeply with students, teachers, and parents across the country. The initiative’s focus on addressing exam stress and encouraging students to view examinations as a festival — ‘Utsav’ — has struck a chord with people from all walks of life.

The overwhelming participation in PPC reflects a growing awareness and acceptance of the importance of mental well-being and holistic education. The programme’s interactive format, which involves open dialogue between students, teachers, and the Prime Minister, has further contributed to its success.

To further strengthen PPC as a ‘Jan Andolan’, a series of engaging activities were conducted from January 12, 2025 (National Youth Day) to January 25, 2025 (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti) at the school level. These activities, conducted across States/UTs, aimed to engage students, parents, and teachers in celebrating PPC as a festival. A total of 1.42 crore students, 12.81 lakh teachers, and 2.94 lakh schools participated.

These activities were designed to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance performance during exams and beyond. Students were encouraged to participate in a diverse range of activities, including indigenous games like Kho-Kho and Kabaddi, short-distance marathons, creative meme competitions, engaging Nukkad Natak performances, and eye-catching poster-making.

They were also encouraged to share their experiences through student testimonials, participate in student-led discussions, and engage in yoga and meditation sessions to cultivate relaxation and mindfulness. Schools organized plays developed by students, conducted workshops, and invited special guests to share their insights.

Since 2018, PM Modi has been holding the annual event to interact with school students, teachers, and parents to share tips on remaining stress-free during the board exams.The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education has been conducting the programme.

The first three editions of PPC were held in New Delhi in a town-hall interactive format. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the fourth edition was held online in the form of a programme telecast on Doordarshan and all major TV channels. The fifth, sixth and seventh editions of PPC were again held in town-hall format at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi. (ANI)