Narendra Modi has pointed out two growing concerns affecting children and young people— excessive screen use and drug abuse— and the indispensable role of teachers in detecting and addressing these challenges.
PM Modi told National Awardee Teachers in New Delhi to look beyond conventional classroom teaching and be more concerned with the development and behaviour of students. His message was centered on preserving childhood, giving children meaningful activities, and keeping children connected with the real world and not being too dependent on digital screens.
As Prime Minister Modi said, sports, outdoor activities, and creative activities can provide children with a balanced, time-consuming alternative to screen time. Games, physical activities, arts, and other creative interests can also be instilled in children to create a balanced day-to-day routine.
The problem of screen dependency has become more acute as smartphones, gaming platforms, social media, and online entertainment have integrated into children’s daily lives. Technology can be used for education and communication, but overuse and impulsive use can reduce physical activity, face-to-face interaction, and creative activities.
PM Modi’s message was therefore about bringing to children learning and enjoyment outside of the digital world. Teachers and parents could work together to encourage students to participate in sports, cultural activities, hobbies, and group-based experiences.
PM Modi Urges Teachers to Look Beyond Textbooks
The Prime Minister also raised the issue of drug abuse among young people, calling for teachers to take on a more proactive role in identifying warning signs. A teacher’s role should not be to complete the syllabus or to prepare students for examinations, he said.
Teachers regularly interact with students and are the ones who are likely to notice changes in behaviour, mood, attendance, academic performance, or social interaction. Paying attention to such changes may be an early warning sign of problems.
PM Modi has flagged two growing concerns around children. Screen addiction and drugs
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) September 5, 2026
While interacting with National Awardee Teachers in Delhi, he said getting children into real, outdoor sports and creative activities could help pull them away from excessive screen time
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PM Modi was particularly critical of the need to be alert to the issue in cities and universities, where issues of substance abuse are more common. Educators should establish a closer connection with students so that behavioural changes are not hidden.
The Prime Minister’s broader appeal was for teachers to help their students understand what’s happening and be mentors. Education is more than being good at school; it’s about building healthy habits, confidence, creativity, and responsible decision-making for young people to develop.
Sports and Creativity as Positive Alternatives
The emphasis on outdoor sports is particularly important because physical activities can give children an opportunity to interact with their peers, develop teamwork, and build discipline. Creative activities can similarly provide outlets for imagination and self-expression.
Instead of treating screen use just as a technology problem, PM Modi’s approach would be about giving kids better alternatives and better real-world engagement.
The Prime Minister’s comments are consistent with a continuing focus on making education more comprehensive and intertwined with students’ lives. He has previously referred to National Teachers Award recipients who have told him of the need to use innovative teaching methods, educational tours, and local folklore as examples of innovative ways to promote learning and make teaching more engaging.
The new message puts the teacher at the heart of a more universal move to protect children’s physical, emotional, and social development. Schools can potentially take a greater role in helping young people cope with the pressures in the digital age and to avoid negative influences through the integration of academics, sports, creativity, mentorship, and closer observation.
Ultimately, PM Modi’s warning is for greater awareness and early intervention. With kids spending more time online and the concern for children’s substance abuse as well as their communities, teachers, parents, and society must raise awareness to make sure that children are fully engaged in something fun and meaningful outside of school or education, and that they are also aware of good things that are going on outside the classroom.
