Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 31 May 2026, shared a video interaction with young athletes Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur as part of his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, calling the exchange 'very special' and expressing confidence in the future of Indian athletics.

Context

Mann Ki Baat is a monthly radio programme launched by Prime Minister Modi in October 2014 to address citizens directly on public interest topics ranging from governance to culture and sports. The programme has consistently served as a platform to spotlight grassroots achievers and inspire youth across the country. Sunday's episode featured a conversation with two young track-and-field athletes, with Modi describing the interaction as offering 'a glimpse of why the future of Indian athletics is very bright.'

Policy Backdrop

The spotlight on emerging talent aligns with the Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017, which aims to identify and nurture grassroots sports talent through structured funding and training support. Over successive Mann Ki Baat episodes, the Prime Minister has made it a practice to feature athletes ahead of major international competitions such as the Olympics and Asian Games, using the programme to build public interest and morale around competitive sport. This consistent linkage between high-level political communication and sports development underscores a broader government strategy to elevate athletics in national discourse.

Stakeholders and Impact

Young athletes and the wider Indian athletics community stand to benefit from the visibility that a Mann Ki Baat feature provides, given the programme's vast national listenership across radio and digital platforms. For athletes like Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur, the Prime Minister's personal acknowledgement can translate into increased public recognition, sponsorship interest, and institutional support from sports bodies. The interaction also sends a signal to coaches, state sports academies, and parents that track-and-field talent is valued at the highest levels of government.

What's Next

Upcoming editions of Mann Ki Baat are expected to continue featuring athletes and youth achievers, particularly as India prepares for international multi-sport events on the horizon. Parliamentary and ministry-level developments around athletics infrastructure funding and training facility upgrades will be closely watched to see whether the programme's spotlight translates into concrete policy action. The interactions highlighted on the show often serve as early indicators of which sporting disciplines the government intends to prioritise in the near term.