Acing the Test: What Startups can learn from Modi's Pariksha Pe Charcha

PM Narendra Modi interacted with students, teachers and parents in the 6th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC), an initiative conceptualised by the Prime Minister wherein students, parents, and teachers interact with him on various topics related to life and exams.

This time about 38.80 Lakh registrations have taken place this year from 155 countries in this year’s edition of PPC.

What the PM said to the students?

He discussed handling disappointment, preparation and time management, avoiding cheating and unfair means in exams, and the balance between working hard and working smart.

He urged parents not to burden their children with expectations, encouraged students to focus on their own capabilities and priorities, stressed the importance of time management and asked students to not waste time cheating. He also encouraged students to work smartly and not just hard, using the example of a thirsty crow and a mechanic. He emphasized that hard work is essential but so is understanding the work.

Why Modi's Advice Is Relevant For Entrepreneurs As Well!

While Pariksha Par Charcha is primarily intended to the school students who are going to appear for their exams, startups too can learn some great lessons from what PM Modi said!

On Handling Disappointment

Modi talked about ever-increasing standards of performance and growing expectations with every success.  He said it is not good to be bogged down by the surrounding web of expectation and one should look inwards and link the expectation with one's own capabilities, needs, intentions and priorities.

On Time Management

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of time management in general life with or without exams. He said work never tires, in fact not working tires a person. He asked students to note down the time allotment to various things that they do. He said that it is a general tendency that one devotes more time to the things that he likes. He said while allocating time to a subject, one should take up the least interesting or most difficult subject when the mind is fresh.

On Taking Shortcuts

“Shortcuts will cut you short,” said PM Modi. This point is also relevant for startups! Prime Minister Modi suggested that one should not rely on shortcuts in their journey of life. He emphasized that taking shortcuts will ultimately "cut you short" and lead to a lack of true understanding and accomplishment. He stressed the importance of hard work and perseverance in achieving one's goals, and the need to put in the effort to truly understand and master a subject or task.

On Working Hard vs Working Smart

Giving the example of smart work, the Prime Minister highlighted the parable of the thirsty crow who threw stones in a pitcher to quench his thirst. He emphasised the need to closely analyse and understand the work and highlighted the moral from the story of working hard, smartly. “Every work should be first examined thoroughly” he added. He gave the example of a smart working mechanic who fixed a jeep within two mins for two hundred rupees and said that it is the work experience that counts rather than the time spent working. “Everything cannot be achieved with hard labour”. Similarly, in sports also specialised training is important. He said that we should focus on what needs to be done. One should do hard work smartly and in the areas that are important.

On Handling Criticism

Modi also talked about handling criticism, which is also a key part of one’s startup journey! Prime Minister stressed that he believes in the principle that criticism is a purification yajna and the root condition of a prospering democracy. Emphasising the need for feedback, the Prime Minister gave examples of a programmer who puts up his code on open source for improvements, and companies that put up their products for sale in the market asking the customers to find the flaws in the products. He also pointed out that it is important to note who is being critical of your work.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the scenes from the Parliament session when a member who is addressing the session on a certain topic doesn't deviate even after getting interrupted by members of the opposition. Secondly, the Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of labour and research in being a critic but observed the shortcut trend in today’s day and age where most people pose allegations rather than criticism. “There is a huge gulf between allegations and criticism”, the Prime Minister remarked as he urged everyone to not mistake criticism for allegations.