'Epitome of women empowerment': PM Modi welcomes students to 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' with 'Gamosa' — Watch

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday marked the return of "Pariksha pe Charch" with its 9th edition, welcoming the students with a traditional Assamese 'Gamosa'. In the video, PM Modi could be seen putting the traditional clothing on the children. He then explained to them its significance. , "I welcomed you with this (referring to Assamese Gamosa). It is called a Gamosa from Assam. It is very dear to me and I admire its craftsmanship." Further linking it women empowerment he added, "This is an epitome of women empowerment for the northeast, especially Assam, as the women weave it at home with love and dedication."The ninth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha was also screened at the Bal Yogi Auditorium within the Parliament premises.Launched in 2018, Pariksha Pe Charcha began as a townhall-style interaction with students and has since evolved into one of India’s largest education engagement initiatives.Also read: PM Modi urges students to focus on skills, stress-free learning—top quotesRegistrations climbed from about 38.8 lakh in 2023 to 2.26 crore in 2024, before rising further to 3.53 crore in 2025—a milestone that earned the programme a Guinness World Record. The ninth edition surpassed that mark, recording more than 4.5 crore registrations.In the latest edition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged students to avoid wasting time online just because data is cheap, advising them to focus instead on building life and educational skills. Speaking during Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026, he cautioned against excessive gaming for leisure, warning that gambling-style gaming could be harmful, while noting that gaming as a skill can aid alertness and self-development.PM Modi stressed that education should not be a burden, encouraged students to follow learning patterns that suit them, and highlighted the importance of balancing studies with rest, skills, and hobbies to approach exams with confidence and positivity.Gamosa: A centre of political debateThe gamosa, a traditional Assamese cloth, recently become a political hot topic after the BJP accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the culture of the northeast by refusing to wear it at a formal event. Union home minister Amit Shah took aim at Rahul, accusing him of showing “enmity towards the people of the northeast” by declining to wear the gamosa presented by President Droupadi Murmu at the Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception.Addressing a rally in Dibrugarh, Shah said the gamosa—a symbol of respect across Assam and the northeast—was worn by all other guests, including European Union leaders, but Gandhi alone refused. “I want to ask the Congress why Rahul did not wear the scarf. What enmity does he have with the people of the northeast?” Shah said, adding that the BJP would continue to protect the region’s cultural values.