Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been urging Gen Z and Gen Alpha to understand the changing circumstances around them, take up leadership responsibilities and think how they can contribute to the country.
The Minister made the remarks at the 36th convocation ceremony of Dr M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute in Chennai on 15 September 2026 where more than 3,200 students received degrees across various disciplines.
Sitharaman told the young graduates that the aspirations and concerns of younger generations were being heard, and urged them to consider what their own part is in society. She encouraged young people to think beyond what they know today and look at what they could do in their education, careers and leadership.
Her message was very much about patience, responsibility and informed decision making. Sitharaman told educated youth in the speech that they need to understand the world around them and not make impulsive decisions, she said.
Such leadership as it is today is critical for the young people. Sitharaman told graduates to take leadership roles in their respective fields and place national interests at the heart of their reasoning. India should not be given up, she said, and that is why India is so important for a good and stable country, in the midst of global conflicts and uncertainty.
The Finance Minister also used the moment to discuss the overall economic environment. She said global conflicts were hitting supplies of essential commodities such as crude oil, gas and fertilisers. India had kept macroeconomic stability even in the face of these uncertainties and a 7.8% growth rate was the data she presented.
Sitharaman also highlighted the job opportunities for young people, especially in Tamil Nadu, and the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam industrial corridor as an important area for automobile manufacturing and smartphone exports. She also said that Tamil Nadu has about 350 Global Capability Centres, which is roughly 10% of all the centres in the country. She said that Coimbatore alone has about 80 such centres with around 12,000 professionals and Madurai and Tiruchirappalli are also developing GCC clusters.
Another aspect that has been addressed at the convocation was the place of women in the workforce. Sitharaman highlighted provisions in the Union Budget that were aimed at assisting women in jobs, such as the establishment of working women's hostels in districts. She linked those initiatives to those in education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The Finance Minister also stressed the value of humility and measured actions in professional and personal life. She quoted from the Thirukkural in her advice for graduates to avoid arrogance, to be patient and to approach problems with humility and not feeling threatened. Education should come with responsibility, leadership and an awareness of the circumstances in which young people will build careers, she said.
🚨 “Gen Z and Gen Alpha, we are ready to listen to you. Educated youth need to be patient and understand the situation. You have to understand what is happening around you. My request to Gen Z is that we should not give up our country."
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) September 17, 2026
- FM Nirmala Sitharaman. pic.twitter.com/NUfHE0So9t
These comments come at a time when younger Indians are entering a rapidly changing employment landscape shaped by technology, artificial intelligence, global economic developments and new forms of work. Sitharaman, separately, said AI will impact every profession and that AI training should be provided.
Her address thus took the form of a message about civic responsibility and also a commentary on India's economy, job opportunities, technology and the changing nature of professional life. With Gen Z and Gen Alpha, Sitharaman placed younger generations at the center of a larger discussion about leadership, education and India’s future.
