Overview

• He returned to The Air Force School in New Delhi for its 70th raising day, which coincided with his own 70th birthday, and spoke with a deep sense of nostalgia about virtues instilled during his schooling.
• He told students to take school seriously by listening to teachers and building habits such as preparation, discipline and critical thinking.
• He highlighted that successful negotiation in diplomacy requires out-preparing and out-thinking competitors using the same foundational skills learned in school.
• He urged learners to engage with global affairs, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as proof that interconnected challenges shape India’s path to its Viksit Bharat goals.
• He predicted a future defined by AI, drones, space exploration, electric mobility and green hydrogen and advised students to stay fit, play sports and practice self-acceptance.