New Delhi/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stressed that G20 countries can play a crucial role in promoting research and innovation in the education sector, especially in the Global South.

Addressing the G20 Education Ministers’ Meet held in Pune via video message from the US, the Prime Minister urged the dignitaries to create a path for increased research collaborations in the education field.

Stressing the role of G-20 countries, he said there is a need for striking the right balance between the opportunities and challenges posed by technology.

Modi also pointed out that India would be happy to share these experiences and resources, particularly with those in the Global South.

Underlining the need to make our youth future-ready by continuously skilling, reskilling, and up-skilling them, the Prime Minister emphasized aligning their competencies with evolving work profiles and practices.

"In India, we are undertaking skill mapping where the Education, Skill, and Labour Ministries are working in tandem on this initiative," he said.

Modi also suggested that G-20 countries can undertake skill mapping at the global level and find gaps that need to be plugged in.

Highlighting the role of digital technology, he said it can serve as an equalizer and promotes inclusivity...adding that it is a force multiplier in increasing access to education and adapting to future needs".

He also touched upon the potential of Artificial Intelligence which offers great potential in the field of learning, skilling, and education.

Throwing light on the emphasis laid on research and innovation, the Prime Minister said India has set up ten thousand ‘Atal Tinkering Labs’ across the country which act as research and innovation nurseries for our school children.

He informed that more than 7.5 million students are working on more than 1.2 million innovative projects in these labs.

Highlighting the significance of the G20 Education Ministers’ meeting towards the future of our children and youth, the Prime Minister expressed delight that the group has identified green transition, digital transformations and women's empowerment as accelerators for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

"Education is at the root of all these efforts," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said education is not only the foundation upon which our civilization has been built, but it is also the architect of humanity's future.

The Prime Minister referred to the Education Ministers as the Sherpas and said they are leading mankind in its effort for development, peace, and prosperity for all.

"The need to adapt and use new e-learning innovatively and said the objective must be to provide quality education with better governance," he said.