India is brimming with self-confidence: Modi

New Delhi: Asserting that India is brimming with self-confidence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country is imbued with the spirit of 'Viksit Bharat' and self-reliance and urged people to maintain the momentum in 2024 as well.

In his 108th episode of Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, the Prime Minister emphasised physical and mental health and highlighted several unique efforts for 'Fit IndiaFit India'. During the broadcast, Isha Foundation head Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, chess legend Vishwanathan Anand and actor Akshay Kumar shared their fitness tips.

In his remarks, Modi said, "Today, every corner of India is brimming with self-confidence, imbued with the spirit of a developed India; the spirit of self-reliance.

We have to maintain the same spirit and momentum in 2024 as well."

Noting that 2024 was just hours away, Modi said India's achievements are the achievements of every Indian and "we have to continuously work for the development of India keeping in mind the "Panch Pran".

"Whatever work we do, whatever decision we make, our first criterion should be what will the country get from it; what benefits it will bring to the country. 'Rashtra Pratham' - Nation First - there is no greater mantra than this," he asserted.

"Adhering to this mantra, we Indians will make our country developed and self-reliant. May you all reach new heights of success in 2024, may you all stay healthy, stay fit, and stay immensely happy - this is my prayer. In 2024, we will once again discuss the new achievements of the people of the country," Modi said.

During the broadcast, the PM listed several achievements and highs the country experienced in various spheres this year.

He pointed out that the record business on Diwali proved that every Indian is giving importance to the mantra of 'vocal for local'. "Even today many people are sending me messages pertaining to the success of Chandrayaan-3.

I am sure that, like me, you too feel proud of our scientists and especially women scientists," he said.

"When 'Natu-Natu' won the Oscar, the whole country rejoiced with fervour. Who would not have been happy to hear about the honour accorded to the 'The Elephant Whisperers'? Through them the world saw the creativity of India and understood our bonding with the environment," Modi said.

He pointed out that this year Indian athletes also performed marvellously in sports with Indian players winning 107 medals in Asian Games and 111 medals in Asian Para Games. "Indian players won everyone's heart with their performance in the Cricket World Cup. The victory of our women's cricket team in the Under-19 T-20 World Cup is very inspiring. The achievements of players in many other sports added to the glory of the country," Modi said.

Now Paris Olympics will be held in 2024, for which the whole country is encouraging its players, he added. "Whenever we made efforts together, it has had a very positive impact on the development journey of our country. We experienced successful campaigns such as 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' and 'Meri Mati Mera Desh'. We are all witness to the participation of crores of people in them. Construction of 70,000 'Amrit Sarovars' is also our collective achievement," he said.

Modi said he has always believed that the development of a country, which does not give importance to innovation, stops. "India becoming an innovation hub is a symbol of the fact that we are not going to stop. In 2015, we were ranked 81st in the Global Innovation Index, today our rank is 40th," he pointed out.

Modi also underlined that this year, the number of patents filed in India was high, of which about 60 per cent were from domestic funds. This time the highest number of Indian universities had been included in the QS Asia University Rankings, he said. "If we start making a list of these achievements, it can never be completed. This is just a glimpse of how effective India's potential is, we have to take inspiration from these successes of the country; these achievements of the people of the country; take pride in them, make new resolves," Modi said.

He stressed that when India turns developed, the youth will benefit the most. "But the youth will benefit more when they are fit," he said. "Nowadays we see how much talk there is about lifestyle-related diseases, it is a matter of great concern for all of us, especially the youth. For this 'Mann Ki Baat', I had requested all of you to send inputs related to Fit India. The response you people have given has filled me with enthusiasm," the PM said.