Sipu Jha
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the 130th edition of Mann Ki Baat, marking the first episode of the monthly radio programme in 2026. The address came on the eve of India’s 76th Republic Day and coincided with National Voters’ Day, which is observed annually on January 25.In his remarks, the Prime Minister reflected on the adoption of the Constitution, urged first-time voters to actively participate in the democratic process, and acknowledged the contribution of grassroots election workers. He also highlighted a decade of the Start-up India initiative, pointing to the rapid expansion of India’s startup ecosystem across emerging sectors.Against the backdrop of India’s growing economic footprint, PM Modi called for a renewed emphasis on quality in manufacturing and innovation, urging businesses and young entrepreneurs to make excellence the defining standard of Indian products as the country attracts global attention.
Here are the key quotes from PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat address:
- “This is the first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of the year 2026. Tomorrow, on 26th January, we all will celebrate ‘Republic Day’. Our Constitution came into force on this day. This day of 26th January gives us an opportunity to pay homage to the makers of our Constitution.”
- “Today, 25th January is also a very important day. Today is ‘National Voters’ Day’. Voters are the soul of democracy.”
- “Usually, when someone turns 18 and becomes a voter, it is considered a normal milestone in life. However, this occasion is actually a huge milestone in the life of any Indian.”
- “I would like to express my deep appreciation to all those involved in the electoral process in our country, who work at the grassroots level to keep our democracy vibrant.”
- “Today, on ‘Voter’s Day,’ I would once again urge my young friends to register themselves as voters upon turning 18.”
- “Ten years ago, in January 2016, we embarked on an ambitious journey… Friends, the journey I am talking about is the journey of Start-up India. The heroes of this amazing journey are our young friends. Today India has the third largest ecosystem of start-ups in the world.”
- “AI, Space, Nuclear Energy, Semiconductors, Mobility, Green Hydrogen, Biotechnology—you name it, and you’ll find an Indian start-up working in that sector.”
- “The era of ‘it happens, it works, it will pass’ is over. Let us prioritize quality with all our might this year. Let our mantra be quality, quality, and only quality… Let us make excellence our benchmark.”
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