In a focused push to deepen engagement with younger Indians, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday directed Union ministers to step up outreach to Gen Z and Gen Alpha through both on-ground interactions and stronger digital communication.
Sources familiar with the Cabinet meeting said the Prime Minister asked ministers to spend a full day at universities, interacting directly with students, listening to their concerns and explaining government schemes aimed at youth. Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and Youth Affairs Minister Mansukh Mandaviya are coordinating this “One Day, One University” effort.
Alongside the campus visits, ministers were told to tour government schools in their constituencies or districts. The brief includes assessing infrastructure, the quality of mid-day meals, availability of teachers and other basic facilities. They have also been asked to ensure their local representatives make regular visits to monitor school functioning. The school outreach is seen as particularly relevant amid reports of younger students (Gen Alpha, roughly ages 5-15) raising demands for better amenities and teaching standards.
The directives come against the backdrop of recent student protests, including those at Jantar Mantar linked to examination and education-related issues. Officials noted that the timing reflects a broader effort to rebuild connect with digitally active younger cohorts who have been vocal on social media.
During the same Cabinet meeting, ministers received detailed social media performance report cards covering the period from May 1 to August 15. The assessment measured activity, engagement and traction across Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and LinkedIn, looking at average daily posts, total engagement, engagement per post, likes and follower metrics. The Prime Minister himself topped the overall rankings. Among Union ministers, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw and C.R. Paatil featured among the stronger performers. Rankings also included leaders beyond the Cabinet, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath among the high performers, alongside Opposition figures such as Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
According to people aware of the discussion, Modi stressed that ministers must move beyond routine posting or reposting of government decisions. He urged more genuine, engaging communication tailored to younger audiences who primarily consume content on these platforms. Some NDA ally ministers were flagged as needing to strengthen their digital presence.
The dual strategy- physical presence on campuses and in schools combined with sharper online engagement - signals the government’s intent to treat sustained connection with Gen Z and Gen Alpha as a priority after a period of visible youth assertion on education and related issues.
