Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 21 chose an unconventional and symbolic setting to engage with students, holding a live ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ interaction aboard a cruise on the Brahmaputra during his visit to Assam. Using the river journey as a backdrop, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of mental well-being, balanced learning and managing examination-related stress among schoolchildren.
Modi spent around 45 minutes on the three-deck vessel M V Charaidew 2, interacting with 25 students selected from across the state. The discussion centred on coping with academic pressure, maintaining mental health and developing a positive and practical approach to studies. Officials said the Prime Minister interacted with the students from the upper deck of the ship, creating an informal and engaging atmosphere for the session.
The programme began after Modi arrived at the Guwahati Gateway Terminal of Inland Water Transport, which was recently inaugurated by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. From the terminal, he proceeded to the cruise vessel via a floating bridge before the interaction commenced on the river.
Security along the Brahmaputra was significantly enhanced for the event. Personnel from the river police, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force were deployed along the river stretch from early morning. As part of the security measures, ferry services on the Brahmaputra were suspended for two days starting Saturday, officials said.
Students participating in the interaction represented a wide geographical and institutional spread, coming from districts such as Kamrup Metropolitan, Morigaon, Dibrugarh, Cachar, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Kokrajhar, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Nalbari. They included students from government, residential and private institutions, including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, PM Shri schools, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, Assam Jatiya Bidyalay and Don Bosco institutions.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Prime Minister’s river cruise could also provide a boost to river tourism in the state. Drawing a parallel with the rise in tourist footfall following Modi’s visit to Kaziranga last year, he said such high-profile engagements help showcase Assam’s natural and cultural assets to a wider audience.
Launched in 2018, ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ is held annually to encourage open dialogue between students and the Prime Minister on examinations, career aspirations and mental health. The Brahmaputra cruise edition added a distinctive regional dimension to the initiative, blending student engagement with Assam’s iconic river landscape.
