New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday highlighted the opportunities that India’s youth stand to gain from the country’s free trade agreements, including the recently concluded “historic” pact with the European Union. Speaking at the annual National Cadet Corps (NCC) PM Rally at Delhi Cantonment, he said these agreements are set to benefit lakhs of young Indians.

Modi emphasized that the global community views India’s youth with confidence, attributing this trust to their skills and values. “I had said from the Red Fort: ‘This is the time, the right time.’ For our youth, it is a period full of opportunities,” he remarked.

Referring to the EU agreement, Modi noted that it follows previous FTAs with Oman, New Zealand, the UK, the UAE, Australia, and Mauritius. “These pacts will unlock countless prospects for India’s youth,” he said, underscoring the transformative potential of trade and collaboration.

The India-EU FTA, signed on Tuesday, is being hailed as the “mother of all deals.” It is designed to create a market encompassing about two billion people, with provisions to lower tariffs on nearly all Indian exports to Europe while also easing duties on EU exports to India. In addition, the two sides agreed on key security and defence cooperation measures and a mobility pact for Indian talent.

Modi described the FTA as more than just a trade agreement, calling it “a blueprint for shared prosperity.” He also highlighted the NCC’s role in nurturing disciplined, confident, and socially responsible citizens. “India’s youth carry a culture of democracy, respect for diversity, and the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — seeing the world as one family,” he said.

The NCC PM Rally, held at the Cariappa Parade Ground, carries the theme “Rashtra Pratham — Kartavya Nishth Yuva,” celebrating duty, discipline, and national commitment. The event also marked the conclusion of the NCC Republic Day Camp 2026, which was inaugurated on January 5 by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan.