Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to take an indirect swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while addressing the media ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Monday. Praising the young team behind private space startup Skyroot Aerospace and its successful Vikram-1 launch, India’s first private orbital-class rocket, PM Modi said he was “not speaking of a 56-year-old youth,” in what was widely seen as a dig at the Congress MP.
“India’s youth have embarked on a new journey into space. I was told that the average age of the entire team working at the ‘Skyroot’ startup is merely 28 years. Young people like these have accomplished this feat. I am not speaking of a 56-year-old youth,” he said. Rahul Gandhi turned 56 earlier this year.
#WATCH | Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, “…India’s youth have embarked on a new journey into space. I was told that the average age of the entire team working at the ‘Skyroot’ startup is merely 28 years. Young people like these have accomplished this feat. I am not speaking of a… pic.twitter.com/B2StDJBZDu
— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2026
The Prime Minister also expressed hope that the Monsoon Session would be productive and beneficial for the country. He compared the parliamentary session with the monsoon season, saying both become valuable when they are proactive and productive.
“Be it the monsoon or the monsoon session, if both are proactive, they prove to be highly productive. And when both are productive, it leads to the welfare of the nation and the well-being of all living beings. That is why we pray that the monsoon remains both proactive and productive, and that the monsoon session proves productive as well,” he said.
Government’s Legislative Agenda
The Centre is expected to introduce and push several important bills during the Monsoon Session. Among the key proposals are the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, the Income-tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amendments to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, changes to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, and the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, aimed at reforming higher education.
The Monsoon Session is likely to witness heated debates, with the opposition expected to question the government over issues such as the Ram temple donation row, the NEET paper leak, and other national matters. The session began on Monday and is scheduled to continue until August 13.
Also Read:Â Parliament Monsoon Session 2026: NEET Row, Ram Mandir Donations, Price Rise Among Key Opposition Issues
