PM Narendra Modi's 133rd Edition of Mann Ki Baat | 26th April, 2026

My dear countrymen, greetings. It is a pleasure to connect with all of you in yet another episode of Mann Ki Baat. There has been the hustle and bustle of elections recently, but through your letters and messages, we have also shared our joys with each other regarding the country's and its people's achievements. This time, let us begin Mann Ki Baat with a very big achievement of the nation. Friends, India has always seen science as linked to the country's progress. With this vision, our scientists are advancing the civil nuclear program. Through their efforts, this program is making a significant contribution to nation-building. It has greatly benefited our industrial growth, the energy sector, and the healthcare sector. From farming to modern innovators, India's civil nuclear program has helped immensely. Friends, just a few days ago, our nuclear scientists enhanced India's pride with another major achievement. At Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, the Fast Breeder Reactor has achieved criticality. Actually, criticality is the stage where the reactor successfully achieves a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction for the first time. This stage means the reactor has reached the operational phase. It is a historic milestone in India's nuclear energy journey, and the big thing is that the nuclear reactor is built entirely with indigenous technology. Friends, why is it called a breeder reactor? There is a reason behind it. It is a system that not only produces energy but also prepares new fuel for the future by itself. Friends, I also remember that time in March 2024 when I witnessed the core loading of the reactor at Kalpakkam. I congratulate all those who have made invaluable contributions to India's nuclear program. Their efforts to make the lives of countrymen better and easier are highly commendable. This will also give new energy to our resolve for a developed India.

My dear countrymen, in Mann Ki Baat today, I want to talk about a power that is invisible but without which our life cannot run for a moment. This power is taking India forward. It is our wind energy. Our ancient scriptures say, 'Vayurva iti vyashti, vayurva samashti'—meaning air is not just an element; it is the energy of life. It is the power of the collective. Friends, today this wind power is writing a new story of India's development. India has recently achieved a major milestone in wind energy. India's wind energy generation capacity has now exceeded 56 gigawatts. In the last year alone, about 6 gigawatts of new capacity has been added. India is rapidly advancing in wind energy, and the world is also watching us. Friends, today India ranks fourth in the world in wind energy capacity. This is the hard work of our engineers, the effort of our youth, and a symbol of the country's collective willpower. Friends, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan—many states of the country are making their mark in this sector. In areas like Kutch, Patan, and Banaskantha in Gujarat, where only a desert was seen before, large renewable energy parks are now being built. The youth are benefiting from this. New opportunities are being created. New skills are developing. New avenues of employment are opening. Friends, solar and wind energy are essential for India's development. This is not just about the environment; it is about securing our future. We all have a role to play. We must save electricity. We must adopt clean energy. Such efforts are necessary at every level in the country, because only through them can a big change come.

Friends, the beginning of May is going to start with a sacred occasion. In a few days, we will celebrate Buddha Purnima. I extend my advance greetings to all of you countrymen. The life message of Lord Gautam Buddha is as relevant today as ever. He taught us that peace begins from within. He showed that victory over oneself is the greatest victory. In today's world, which is going through so many tensions and conflicts, Buddha's thoughts have become even more important. Friends, in Chile, South America, an institution is advancing Lord Buddha's thoughts. It is working under the guidance of Drompon and Zere Rinpoche, who were born in Ladakh. This institution is connecting meditation and compassion with people's lives. The stupa built in the Kochi Guwahati Valley gives people an experience of peace. It is truly a matter of pride to see this. India's ancient stream is reaching the world; people in far-off places are connecting with it. Friends, the Buddhist tradition also teaches us to connect with nature. Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under a tree. Nature is an integral part of our life. Such efforts are also happening in the country. The Karma Monastery in Karnataka is a good example. This monastery is a vibrant forest area spread over 100 acres. More than 700 native tree species have been conserved in this forest. Friends, Buddha's message is not just about the past; it is relevant today as well and necessary for the future. This occasion of Buddha Purnima gives us inspiration. May we increase peace in our lives, adopt compassion, and move forward with balance.

My dear countrymen, all of you know that in our country, from 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas, to 30th January, the martyrdom day of Gandhiji, the Republic Festival is celebrated. An important part of this festival is the Beating Retreat. Today I am discussing Beating Retreat with you because there is a special reason behind it. Friends, you must have seen that this ceremony showcases the diverse musical traditions of different bands. In the past few years, the inclusion of Indian music in it has increased, and it is liked a lot by the people of the country. This year's Beating Retreat ceremony was also very memorable. The bands of the Air Force, Army, Navy, and CAPF gave a very good performance. Friends, along with fantastic music, this program of impressive formations attracts everyone's attention. The Air Force band created the 'Sindoor' formation, the Naval band created the 'Matsya Yantra' formation, while in the Army band's performance, the 150 years of Vande Mataram and India's success in cricket were also depicted. Friends, after the Beating Retreat was over, all this hard work and achievement used to gradually fade away. But now a very good effort has been made regarding this. The music of Beating Retreat is available for the first time on the Waves OTT platform. In the coming time, it will also be available on other platforms. You must listen to it. You will feel very proud of your armed forces and their traditions.

Friends, in the past few years, inspiring stories of nature conservation have emerged from different parts of the country. These stories give us hope and fill us with pride. I want to share some examples with the listeners of Mann Ki Baat. Hearing them will make your heart happy. First, let's talk about the Rann of Kutch. As soon as the rains end, the land here becomes vibrant. Every year, lakhs of flamingos come here. The entire area turns pink. That is why it is called Flamingo City. These birds build their nests here and raise their young. The people of Kutch call them 'Lakha Ji ke Barati'. Now Lakha Ji Ke Barati have become beautiful symbols of environmental protection in Kutch. Friends, the second story is about cooperation between humans and wildlife, and it is from Uttar Pradesh. In the Terai regions there, during the harvest season, herds of elephants come towards the villages. This increases the possibility of conflict. But now, efforts like 'Gaj Mitra' have started in UP as well. The villagers themselves form teams to keep an eye on the elephants. They alert people in time. This is reducing conflict and increasing trust among people. Friends, good news has also come from central India. Blackbucks have started appearing again in Chhattisgarh. At one time, their numbers had become very low. But continuous efforts were made and conservation was enhanced. Today, they are seen running in open fields again. This is the return of our lost heritage. Similar hope is also visible in the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, or Godavan. This bird used to be the identity of our desert areas. But at one time, its numbers became very low. The situation was such that this bird was on the verge of extinction. But now a big campaign is underway for its conservation. Scientific methods are being adopted. Breeding centers have been set up, and now the beginning of new life is visible. Friends, nature and humans are not separate. We are companions of each other. When we understand nature, respect it, and walk together with it, change is clearly visible. Today, this change is emerging as new hope from every corner of the country.

My dear countrymen, the Northeast is like Ashta Lakshmi for all of us. There is abundant talent here, and the natural beauty of the Northeast also attracts everyone's attention. In Mann Ki Baat, we have often discussed the achievements of the people of the Northeast. Today, I will discuss yet another such achievement—the success of the Northeast in the bamboo sector. Friends, what was once seen as a burden is now giving new momentum to employment, business, and innovation. Our mothers and sisters are its biggest beneficiaries. You will be surprised to know how big a change has come by changing the definition of bamboo. Friends, according to a law made by the British, bamboo was defined as a tree, and the rules related to it were very strict. Taking bamboo anywhere was very difficult. In such a situation, the people here started moving away from bamboo-related work. Friends, in the year 2017, by amending the law, we removed bamboo from the category of trees. The results are before everyone. Today, the bamboo sector is flourishing across the Northeast. People are continuously innovating and adding value to it. Friends, Vijay Sootradhar from Gomati District in Tripura and Pradeep Chakraborty from South Tripura—I am talking about them. They saw the new laws as a big opportunity. Then they connected their work with technology. Today, they are making bamboo products much better and in much larger quantities than before. In Dimapur and surrounding areas of Nagaland, there are many self-help groups that have added value to food products related to bamboo. There are also teams like Corolo Creative Craft that are working on bamboo furniture and handicrafts. Friends, in the Mamit district of Mizoram, there are teams working on bamboo tissue culture and polyhouse management. I have also come to know about the Laksh Sthal Bamboo Enterprise team near Gangtok in Sikkim. It makes handicrafts, agarbatti sticks, furniture, and interior decor items from bamboo. Friends, I have given only a few examples here. The list of success in the bamboo sector in the country is quite long. I would urge all of you to definitely buy some bamboo product from the Northeast. You can also give it as a gift. Your effort will boost the morale of those who work hard to make bamboo products.

My dear countrymen, in these rapidly changing times, technology has become a very big part of our lives. Today, we are seeing the marvel of technology even in connecting our past with the present. In this direction, a recent development has made people associated with education and those interested in history very happy. Friends, a few days ago, the National Archives of India shared a unique database on a special portal. This institution has digitized and made public over 20 crore invaluable documents. Some of these are very interesting. The Gilgit manuscripts from the 7th century are written on birch bark. Here you will also get to see an interesting text from the 8th century, Shri Bhavalaya. This text, based on numbers, is in the form of a grid. You can also see some important letters related to Rani Lakshmibai here. These reveal some of the decisions she took in 1857, which reflect her valor. For those who are big fans of Netaji Subhas, there are many documents related to his life, the Azad Hind Fauj, and his speeches. You will also find many documents related to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya ji. These include important information about the establishment of BHU and the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. Many unique documents related to our Constituent Assembly are also available here. I urge all of you to definitely visit www.abhilekhpatal.in. It will give you a wonderful experience of your history.

Friends, just imagine: you are among the most talented people in the world. You have very difficult math problems. You have only four and a half hours to solve them. The time is very short, and the competition is international and very tough. In such a situation, being nervous is very natural. But in these very circumstances, our daughters have done wonders. Earlier this month, the European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad was organized in Bordeaux, France. This was a big competition for schoolgirls with a deep interest in mathematics. It is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. In this Olympiad, our daughters gave their best performance ever. I am very proud of this talented team. It included Shreya Mundra from Mumbai, Sanjana Chako from Thiruvananthapuram, Shivani Bharat Kumar from Chennai, and Simoi Bera from Kolkata. Our team ranked sixth in the world. Shreya made history by winning a gold medal. Sanjana won silver, and Shivani won a bronze medal. Friends, the selection process for this Olympiad in India is very tough in itself. It has a multi-stage selection process. Candidates have to overcome difficult challenges at regional, state, and national levels. After that, the best-performing students join a one-month mathematics training camp. This camp is organized at the Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. At the end of this camp, there is a team selection test. Based on performance in this, the Indian team is chosen. Friends, every year, about 6 lakh students from across the country participate in this Mathematical Olympiad program. This number is continuously increasing. That is, this Olympiad culture is rapidly becoming popular among the daughters of the country. I also appreciate the parents for supporting these talented daughters.

My dear countrymen, a very important campaign is currently underway in our country, information about which every Indian must have. It is the census campaign. This is the world's largest census. Friends, for those who have gone through this process before, this time their experience of the census is going to be different. The 2027 census has been made digital. All information is being recorded directly on digital media. The employees going door-to-door have a mobile app. They will talk to you and record the information in it. Friends, this time your participation in the census has also been made easier. You can also record your own information. The facility will start for you 15 days before the employee arrives. You can fill in the information according to your convenience. When you complete the process, you get a special ID. This ID comes to your mobile or email. Later, when the employee comes to your home, you can show this ID and confirm the information. There is no need to give the information again. It saves time and makes the process easier. Friends, in the states where the self-enumeration work has been completed, the listing of houses by the census employee has also started. So far, the house listing of about 1.20 crore families has been completed. Friends, the census of the country is not just a government task; it is our collective responsibility. Your participation is very important. The information you provide remains completely secure. It is kept confidential. It is protected with digital security. Let us all participate in this process and make the 2027 census a success.

Friends, in our country, the tradition of food and drink has not been limited to taste alone. An interesting part of this tradition is Indian cheese. A few days ago, I shared some information through a tweet. In an international cheese competition held in Brazil, two Indian cheese brands received prestigious awards. This achievement was widely discussed on social media. Many people told me that the diversity of cheese in India should also be discussed. Friends, a big change is taking place in India's dairy sector. Value addition in this sector has given a new identity to our traditional tastes. Today, Indian cheese is making its place worldwide. Whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the taste of India is reaching plates around the world. Take, for example, the Kalari cheese of Jammu and Kashmir. It is called the Mozzarella of Kashmir. The Gujjar Bakarwal community has been making and eating it for generations. Similarly, Chhurpi is very famous in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh. The simplicity and delicacy of the mountains can be felt in its taste. The special thing about this cheese is that it is made from yak milk. Friends, in Maharashtra and Gujarat, Toplenu Paneer, also called Surati Cheese, has its own distinct identity. I have only mentioned a few names here, but this world of flavors in our country is very vast. Today, this tradition is getting new strength. Many Indian companies are investing in this sector. Modern technology is coming. Better packaging is happening, and our products are advancing at world standards. It is the result of this that Indian cheese is now moving beyond the country's borders to reach world markets and restaurants. Today, we talk about going from local to global, and the example of Indian cheese shows us the way forward. I am confident that India's taste, tradition, and quality will give people around the world a new experience and also create a new connection with India.

My dear countrymen, this month, the New Year along with many other festivals have been celebrated in many parts of the country. In a few days, on 9th May, on the occasion of Pochise Boishakh, we will celebrate the birth anniversary of Gurudev Tagore. Gurudev was a multifaceted personality. He was a great writer and thinker. He also shaped many famous institutions. Gurudev Tagore was an advocate for industries that would provide sustainable employment as well as the welfare of villages. The influence of Rabindra Sangeet continues to be felt around the world even today. For me, my visits to Shantiniketan have been unforgettable. This is the same institution that he nurtured and adorned with full dedication. I once again pay my humble tributes to him. Friends, the month of May also reminds us of the first war of independence in 1857. I bow to all the brave sons of Mother India who awakened the spirit of patriotism among the people. This is also the time for school children's holidays. My request is that they enjoy their holidays to the fullest and try to learn something new. In this summer season, all of you also take full care of your health. I will meet you again next month with some new topics and some new achievements of the countrymen. Thank you very much. Namaskar.