Assam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday interacted with students from across Assam in a unique setting, hosting a session of Pariksha Pe Charcha while travelling on a cruise ship along the Brahmaputra river. The interaction marked the second day of his visit to the state.
The Prime Minister boarded the three-deck cruise vessel MV Charaidew 2 from the Guwahati Gateway Terminal of the Inland Water Transport (IWT), a facility inaugurated recently. Walking across a floating bridge to reach the ship, Modi began his engagement with 25 selected students, officials said.
The interaction, scheduled to last around 45 minutes, brought together students from multiple districts including Kamrup Metropolitan, Morigaon, Dibrugarh, Cachar, Sribhumi, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Kokrajhar, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Nalbari. Participants represented a diverse range of institutions such as government and private schools, residential schools, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, PM Shri schools, Don Bosco institutions and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.
Security arrangements were significantly tightened for the event, with River Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams deployed along the river since early morning. As a precautionary measure, ferry services on the Brahmaputra have been suspended for two days starting Saturday.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier highlighted the potential boost to river tourism following the Prime Minister’s cruise, noting that a similar visit to Kaziranga last year had led to a noticeable increase in tourist numbers. He expressed hope that this event would have a similar positive impact on Assam’s river-based tourism.
Launched in 2018, Pariksha Pe Charcha is an annual initiative aimed at helping students manage exam-related stress and adopt a healthier, more balanced approach to education. During the programme, the Prime Minister engages directly with students, encouraging open conversations about academics, career goals and mental well-being, while sharing practical advice on handling examinations with confidence and calm.
