Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that while teachers usually assign homework to students, he wanted to give them an unusual “homework” of their own — to lead campaigns with their students in support of swadeshi products, thereby strengthening Make in India and the vocal for local movement.

Speaking to the National Teacher Award winners, he suggested schools observe events like Swadeshi Day or Swadeshi Week, where students bring locally made products from home and share their stories. “Today, I am doing what you always do — giving homework. My homework for you is to encourage students to promote swadeshi products, and I am sure you will complete it,” he said.

The Prime Minister added that students should be motivated to bring Indian-made goods from their homes for discussions, and even take part in village marches holding placards in support of local products. He said such initiatives would inspire citizens to use Made in India items and strengthen the ‘vocal for local’ campaign.

He also called for the use of indigenous materials in art, crafts, and school celebrations, urging teachers to build pride in Indian-made goods. He emphasized classroom discussions on the origins, makers, and cultural value of swadeshi products to deepen awareness. Interactions between students and local artisans, he said, would help them appreciate traditional skills and crafts passed down through generations.

Encouraging Made in India gifts for occasions like birthdays, Modi said such practices would instill patriotism, self-confidence, and respect for labour in young people, while also connecting their personal growth with national progress. He further suggested putting up “har ghar swadeshi” boards outside every house and shop to promote self-reliance.

Linking the idea to Mahatma Gandhi’s swadeshi movement, Modi said it was now the responsibility of today’s generation to carry that legacy forward. He urged students to ask themselves how they could contribute to the nation’s needs, stressing that a country dependent on others cannot achieve its full potential.

Citing India’s massive annual expenditure of over ₹1 lakh crore on edible oil imports, he pointed out that if such money stayed within the country, it could transform education and infrastructure. He concluded by saying that building a self-reliant India should become a “life mantra,” and teachers must sow this vision into the minds of the next generation.