Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the inaugural session of School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL) Conclave, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on February 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (February 21, 2025) called India an emerging global powerhouse that required world-class leaders who can find solutions to global needs and complexities in every sector. At the same time, these leaders must keep the country’s interest at the forefront for an accelerated growth momentum, he added.
At the School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL) conclave, Mr. Modi said institutions like SOUL could prove to be game changers in this regard. He said India needed energetic and solution-oriented leaders whose approach would be global, but an important part of their thinking would also be local.
“We have to prepare such individuals, who move ahead with an Indian mind, understanding the international mindset, those who are always ready for strategic decision-making, crisis management, and futuristic thinking. If we have to compete in international markets, in global institutions, then we need such leaders who understand international business dynamics,” he said.
The Prime Minister said: “…In the times to come, leadership will not be limited to just power. Only those who have the capabilities of innovation and impact will be in the leadership roles. Individuals of the country will have to emerge according to this need. SOUL will be an institution that develops critical thinking, risk-taking, and solution-driven mindset in these individuals. In the times to come, such leaders will emerge from this institution who will be ready to work amidst disruptive changes.”
“In the coming times, when we will promote a new leadership from diplomacy to tech innovation, then India’s influence and impact will increase manifold in all these sectors… We have to make our governance and policy making world-class. This will be possible only when our policymakers, bureaucrats, and entrepreneurs are able to frame their policies by linking them with global best practices,” said Mr. Modi.
“We have to prepare leadership for many emerging sectors like deep-tech, space, biotech, and renewable energy. Leadership has to be created for conventional sectors like sports, agriculture, manufacturing, and social service. We not only have to aspire excellence in every sector, but also achieve it,” he said, emphasising the importance of building well-equipped human resources to achieve the goal of a developed India.
“When any country progresses, natural resources have their own role, but human resources have an even bigger role than that,” he said. The Prime Minister said Gujarat emerged as a top State due to its leadership driven by its human capital despite the lack of sufficient natural resources.
Stating that the bond forged by a shared purpose leads to the development of leadership and team spirit, he said: “When we move forward with a common goal and collective effort, the results are extraordinary.”
Mr. Modi thanked the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, for being present at the event, on the birthday of the King of Bhutan.
Published – February 21, 2025 09:13 pm IST