Focus on 'skill, scale and speed' to compete with China: PM

Modi said Universities should be actively involved in research and analysis of the developmental process, to contribute in the best possible way for policy-related decisions.

He said the “input of intellectual think-tanks” should be enhanced for better policy framework.  The Prime Minister said urbanisation should not be treated as a problem, but as an opportunity.

“If we have to generate employment and change for the better, we plan to build 100 smart cities,” he said.  Modi stressed on the need for water conservation and emphasised the importance of micro-irrigation, which would lead to “per drop, more crop”.

He said that micro-irrigation had been successful in improving productivity and quality in crops like sugarcane in Gujarat.

Talking about the need to combat the challenge of global warming and climate change, the Prime Minister said that a civilization that treated rivers as mothers, did not need to learn about environment protection from a western mindset.