PM Modi's 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' Explores Tech's Role in Education

In the eighth edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha', PM Modi discussed technology's impact on students with Radhika Gupta and Gaurav Chaudhary. They emphasized balancing tech use, warned against over-reliance, and highlighted educators' roles in guiding students. The event reached a broad audience via multiple media platforms.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's eighth installment of the 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' series placed a spotlight on technology's influence in student life, featuring key insights from Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, and Gaurav Chaudhary, recognized as 'Technical Guruji'. Sharat Bhattatiripad moderated the discourse, which probed whether technology serves as a friend or foe in educational preparation.

The session offered varied perspectives on utilizing technology in academics. Radhika Gupta underscored the necessity of mastering technology instead of being mastered by it. She asserted, "Professionally, technology should function as a slave, not a master. Overreliance can dull creativity and acuity." Emphasizing the mentorship role, she highlighted how educators can harness AI for demonstration, stressing that it should bolster rather than replace human insight.

Echoing concerns, Gaurav Chaudhary advised caution against excessive AI reliance, which he believes could stifle inventiveness. He reflected on the bygone era of memorizing friends' landline numbers, suggesting that while technology eases life, it may erode natural memory retention. Chaudhary also critiqued the social media-driven habit of digitally documenting every experience at the cost of living in the moment.

The discourse also touched on accountability in AI misjudgments. Chaudhary posited AI should be an assistant, not an autonomous decision-maker, cautioning against vesting it with power that could cause significant detriment. Since 2018, PM Modi's 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' has aimed to guide students, parents, and educators in tackling exam pressure, evolving from New Delhi town halls to virtual interactions amid the pandemic and reverting to physical gatherings at Talkatora Stadium in recent editions.

This year's event was disseminated widely across platforms like the Prime Minister's official X profile, PMO's X handle, and the PM's YouTube channel, extending its reach to students and educators across the nation.

(With inputs from agencies.)