Date: 2026-02-20Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Universities should aim to nurture constitutional and civic consciousness among youth and prepare a generation imbued with the spirit of ‘Nation First’: Lok Sabha Speaker
**Executive Summary**
The Lok Sabha Speaker addressed the inaugural ceremony of three major academic programs launched by O.P. Jindal Global University on February 20, 2026, in New Delhi. The Speaker emphasized the importance of universities in nurturing constitutional and civic consciousness among youth, aligning academic courses with contemporary needs, and strengthening democratic institutions. The address highlights the role of technology in educating and empowering voters, and the significance of public participation in elections.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **University Objectives:**
* Universities should foster constitutional and democratic values and civic awareness among youth.
* Universities should prepare a generation imbued with the spirit of 'Nation First'.
* Academic courses should align with contemporary needs to strengthen democratic institutions.
* **Democratic Principles:**
* Democracy is strengthened when every citizen is aware, responsible, and upholds constitutional values.
* Subjects like Political Communication, Election Management, and Legislative Drafting are essential for democratic processes.
* Students trained in these programs will play an important role in ensuring greater public participation in elections.
* **Electoral System:**
* India's electoral process is widely appreciated globally for its transparency and credibility.
* Youth should contribute to making the electoral system more robust and effective.
* Technology should be used to educate, inform, and empower voters, not just for administrative convenience.
* **Institutional Efficiency:**
* Enhancing the efficiency of democratic institutions requires well-trained, competent, and sensitive public representatives and parliamentary officials.
* PRIDE Institute of the Indian Parliament has made significant contributions through training programs for Parliamentarians.
**Impact Analysis**
**O.P. Jindal Global University**
* **Impact:** The university's initiative is expected to nurture young individuals who will set new benchmarks of excellence in democratic awareness, public service, policymaking, and journalism.
* **Action Required:** Continue to develop and implement programs that align with contemporary needs, impart both theoretical knowledge and practical understanding, and equip students with leadership skills.
**Students**
* **Impact:** Students will gain theoretical knowledge, practical understanding, and leadership skills, enabling them to contribute to democratic processes.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in the new academic programs, contributing to in-depth study and research on India’s electoral system.
**Citizens/Voters**
* **Impact:** The initiative aims to educate, inform, and empower voters, enhancing democratic awareness and public service.
* **Action Required:** Stay informed about political processes and participate actively in elections, upholding constitutional values.
**Parliamentary Officials and Members**
* **Impact:** The PRIDE Institute's training programs aim to enhance their efficiency, competency, and sensitivity in reinforcing parliamentary traditions at a global level.
* **Action Required:** Engage in training programs to improve skills and knowledge related to democratic institutions and parliamentary procedures.
Key Entities Referenced
Lok Sabha Speaker: Speaker of the Lower House of the Indian Parliament, delivering a message on nurturing constitutional values.
O.P. Jindal Global University: University hosting the event and launching academic programs focused on democratic processes.
New Delhi: Location of the event at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.
PRIDE Institute of the Indian Parliament: Training institute for Parliament members and officials, contributing to parliamentary expertise.
Lok Sabha Secretariat
Universities should aim to nurture constitutional
and civic consciousness among youth and
prepare a generation imbued with the spirit of
‘Nation First’: Lok Sabha Speaker
Democracy is strengthened only when every citizen is aware
and responsible towards constitutional values: Lok Sabha
Speaker
Technology should not be confined merely to enhancing
convenience, but must also be used to educate and
empower voters: Lok Sabha Speaker
Lok Sabha Speaker addresses the inaugural ceremony of
three major academic programmes launched by O.P. Jindal
Global University
Posted On: 20 FEB 2026 10:40PM by PIB Delhi
At a programme held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, to mark the inauguration of three
major academic programmes initiated by O.P. Jindal Global University, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla
addressed the participants as the Chief Guest.
In his address, Lok Sabha Speaker stated that universities are not merely institutions that confer degrees,
but are foundational pillars of nation-building. He emphasised that the objective of universities should be
to foster constitutional and democratic values, and civic awareness among the youth, and to prepare a
conscious and responsible generation imbued with the spirit of ‘Nation First’.
He further observed that the new academic courses introduced by the O. P. Jindal University are aligned
with contemporary needs and represent a significant and visionary step towards strengthening democratic
institutions and systems. These programmes, he hoped, will not only impart theoretical knowledge but
also equip students with practical understanding and leadership skills.
The Speaker remarked that democracy becomes truly strong only when every citizen is aware, remains
conscious of both rights and duties, and upholds constitutional values. Referring to subjects such as
Political Communication, Election Management, and Legislative Drafting, he described them as essential
in the present context, as they directly influence the quality and effectiveness of democratic processes. He
added that students trained under these programmes would play an important role in ensuring greater
public participation in elections.He also highlighted that India’s electoral process is widely appreciated across the world for its
transparency and credibility. He stressed the need for the country’s youth to undertake in-depth study and
research on India’s electoral system and contribute towards making it even more robust and effective.
The Lok Sabha Speaker further stated that enhancing the efficiency of democratic institutions requires
public representatives and parliamentary officials to be well-trained, competent, and sensitive. He noted
that the PRIDE Institute of the Indian Parliament has made significant contributions by organising training
programmes for Members and officials of Parliaments from over 110 countries, thereby reinforcing
India’s parliamentary traditions and expertise at the global level.
He observed that in a vast and diverse democracy like India, election management is a complex and
scientific process that requires rigorous analysis, impartiality, and technical proficiency. Technology, he
emphasised, should not remain limited to administrative convenience but must also serve as a means to
educate, inform, and empower voters.
Concluding his address, Shri Birla hoped that this initiative of Jindal University would help nurture young
individuals who would set new benchmarks of excellence in democratic awareness, public service,
policymaking, and journalism. He extended his best wishes to the university administration, faculty
members, and students for this innovative endeavour and wished them success in their future pursuits.
The event witnessed the notable presence of academicians, policymakers, students, and distinguished
guests.
नई दी के डॉ. अंबेडकर इंटरनेशनल सटर म O.P. Jindal Global University ारा आरभं कए गए
तीन नए शैक्षणक कायक्रम के उाटन समारोह म सलत होकर अपने वचार साझा कए।
वश्ववालय को मन े सदव के वल डी प्रदान करने वाल े संान नह, ब संवैधानक नैतकता,… p
ic.twitter.com/rwWiJ2uO2B
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) February 20, 2026****
AM
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