Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced free online coaching for competitive examinations, saying expensive coaching classes have become a major burden on poor and middle-class families.Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, Modi said the government wants to use India's digital infrastructure and pool of talented educators to make quality exam preparation accessible to young people.“The competition surrounding coaching classes has become a huge burden for middle-class families. Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching centre, they are somehow falling behind or do not belong to a respectable family,” Modi said.He said the move would help families save the thousands of crores of rupees spent on coaching. Modi also stressed that students should be able to prepare for competitive exams while staying close to their families.“Therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various competitive examinations for our youth,” he said, and added, “We have digital public infrastructure, and we have highly talented teachers and educators.”The announcement comes weeks after youth-led protests over examination irregularities in several parts of the country, including a prominent protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.Modi urges youth to take part in Census 2027Modi also called on young Indians to actively participate in the national Census, saying even a few hours of participation can contribute to the country's development.“I am asking all of you for your help,” he said.“You may feel, What can I possibly do for the country in one or two hours? Let me tell you — those one or two hours can become a great source of strength for the nation.”Calling for an "atmosphere of participation" in every household, Modi said accurate Census data is crucial for framing policies, welfare schemes and India's development roadmap."These days, the country is conducting the Census. The counting is underway. And counting is not merely about numbers. The details help shape policies and schemes. They help the country prepare its roadmap for development. Therefore, it is very important that we have accurate information," he said.Modi calls for action against ‘dimagi Naxals’The Prime Minister also called for "identifying and isolating" the “dimagi Naxals”, while claiming that Maoist extremism is nearing its end in India.He said Naxalism and Maoism had damaged the future of generations of young people and caused widespread fear across several regions."For four decades, huge areas and people were in their clutches under the fear of guns. Over 3,500 security personnel died protecting people; the number is higher than those who die in war," he said."When we came to power in 2014, we swore to rid the country of Naxals. I am happy Maoist violence is taking its last breath," he said, adding that several areas have now been freed from Naxalites and are witnessing development.Modi further said, "For years, those with Naxal mentality had their place in the power corridors. They were in government committees as advisors. Maoist thinking impacted policies."