Physics Wallah founder Alakh Pandey on 15 August extended his full support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day announcement of free online coaching for students in need, declaring that quality education must be accessible at no cost to every child across India. Pandey's endorsement, posted on his official X account, came hours after Modi unveiled the initiative from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi.

What Pandey Said

In his post, Pandey wrote: 'I really appreciate Prime Minister's Promise about Free online Coaching for all needy students. I have always believed that online is the only way to make quality education accessible to remote towns and villages. I want to see this happening on ground coz execution is the main part. Hon'ble Narendra Modi ji. I offer my unconditional support to Government for this. I don't want any profits in return. Quality Education should be free for Every kid of India. Jai Hind.'

Notably, Pandey — whose Physics Wallah platform has become one of India's largest edtech brands, serving millions of students from smaller towns — stressed that execution would be the decisive factor, not the announcement itself.

What PM Modi Announced

During his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Modi said the Union government would provide free online coaching for a range of competitive examinations. He pointed to the mounting financial pressure that coaching classes place on middle-class and lower-income families, noting that many parents feel compelled to enrol their children out of fear of falling behind.

'Therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various competitive examinations for our youth,' Modi said, adding that India already possesses the digital public infrastructure and the teaching talent needed to make this a reality.

Context: Exam Irregularity Protests

The announcement arrives weeks after youth-led demonstrations over alleged examination irregularities swept several parts of the country, with a prominent protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Critics have argued that the coaching ecosystem's grip on competitive exam preparation reflects deeper systemic gaps in public education — gaps the government's initiative now aims to address.

This is the first time the Centre has committed to a structured free online coaching programme at the national level, though the operational details — including which examinations will be covered, the delivery platform, and teacher empanelment — are yet to be announced.

Census 2027 Appeal

In the same address, Prime Minister Modi urged India's youth to participate actively in Census 2027, calling for an 'atmosphere of participation' in every household. He said even one or two hours of contribution from each individual could become a significant source of strength for the nation.

With both the free coaching commitment and the Census appeal, Modi's Independence Day address was notably youth-focused — and the government will now face pressure to translate the coaching promise into a credible, time-bound rollout.