New Delhi, Feb 22
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday confessed to students that he himself had been an ordinary student and also had bad hand-writing -- which could explain how he passed.

In his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme, Modi -- addressing school students across the country who are to appear for their board examinations beginning next week -- said he was "an ordinary student who never got very good marks".

"My hand-writing was also bad and may be my teachers passed me in my examinations as they might not have understood what was written," he said, in a jocular attempt to lighten the exam pressure on the students.

Concentrate on present, be confident: Modi to students

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday asked students to concentrate on their "present moment" and not on the past or future.

Giving tips to students who will be appearing for their Class 10 and 12 examinations starting next week, the prime minister said they must "live in the present moment... you will certainly do well" in the examination.

In his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme, the prime minister said "thinking about the past or future does not help" and gave the example of a cricket player who is on the field to face a ball.

"Will he think how did he play in the last match or how will he play in his next? No, he has to concentrate on the ball being thrown to him," he said.

Modi told students they must not get nervous unnecessarily and attempt the "easy questions" first.

"Your teachers and others must have told you this, but I too would say that easy questions must be attempted first," he said in his radio address.

"Be confident of yourself, whatever you have studied throughout the year would certainly come back to you as you attempt the question paper," he said.

Modi also called upon students not to take examinations to prove a point to somebody, instead to assess yourself.

"Take the exams for yourself. You don't have to prove a point to someone else," he said.

The prime minister also advised the students not to waste their time on thinking who wished them luck before the exams and who did not.

"Don't waste your time on these issues, instead be confident and you will do well," he said.

Compete with yourself, not others: Modi to

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said students preparing for board and competitive examinations should compete with themselves and not others in order to avoid stress and succeed.

"We must not waste our energies in competing with others. Start competing with yourself and make sure that your present is better than your past," Modi said during a special episode of "Mann Ki Baat", his regular radio address to the nation that focused on examinations.

"We are responsible for making exams a burden. We should stop doing it," he added.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and other central and state board examinations for Class 10 and 12 will be held in March.

Modi had earlier this month invited students, teachers and parents to share their exam-related experiences for the monthly radio programme ahead of the board and competitive exams

Don't compare your children with others, Modi advises parents

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday advised parents not to compare their children to others as it results in unnecessary pressure on them.

Addressing a special episode of his regular radio address to the nation "Mann Ki Baat" focusing on examinations, Modi said: "Parents must not compare their children with others as it puts needless pressure on them during examinations."

"Many parents have a feeling that their child should be the best at studies. They want their child to make them proud in their circle of friends and family. In reality, it is the parent who wants to bask in the glory of their child," he said.

"Don't take unnecessary stress of exams. Just be confident and believe in yourself and you will get good results," he added.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and other central and state board examinations for Class 10 and 12 will be held in March.

Modi had earlier this month invited students, teachers and parents to share their exam-related experiences f