Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a worldwide digital milestone after an Instagram reel posted from his official account crossed 303 million views within 24 hours, surpassing the previous global platform record of 300 million.
The record-breaking engagement follows direct digital outreach aimed at Gen Z and student communities during ongoing demonstrations at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Key Highlights of the Digital Outreach
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Record Engagement: The initial selfie-style vertical reel amassed over 303 million views, driving a surge of 1 million new followers to the Prime Minister’s Instagram account overnight.
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Follow-Up “Thank You” Message: On July 24, PM Modi published a follow-up reel titled “Thank You Friends,” expressing appreciation for the feedback and suggestions sent by young viewers.
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Cabinet Policy Actions: Addressing Cabinet colleagues, the Prime Minister emphasized treating paper leaks as a grave concern rather than a trivial issue. The Union Cabinet approved a draft bill establishing fast-track courts and stricter penal provisions against paper leak syndicates.
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Ministers Urged to Engage on Social Media: Following the reel’s reach, PM Modi advised Cabinet ministers to actively engage with youth on platforms like Instagram through interactive sessions and reels.
Background: Jantar Mantar Protests
The digital outreach unfolded against the backdrop of student demonstrations led by groups such as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. Protesters have been demanding sweeping institutional reforms, accountability from the National Testing Agency (NTA), and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following irregularities in competitive examinations like NEET-UG.
In his video address, the Prime Minister noted that over 22 lakh students had undergone re-examinations to prevent the loss of an academic year and assured that strict legal measures would be passed in Parliament to penalize offenders.
