Tendulkar, speaking at an NDTV programme to honour 25 Greatest Global Living Indians, said that dreams come true if one chases them hard.
"I would encourage the youth of India to dream because dreams come true if you chase them hard," he said after accepting the award from President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
"I also at times had to face defeat but the most important thing I learnt from my sport was when you are defeated you stand up to face another challenge.
He asked the youth to engage in outdoor activities to keep themselves fit and in good health so that they can focus on their respective fields.
"When today, I look at the current generation, they are so much into videogames, laptops, computers, mobile phones which unfortunately only exercises your thumbs. I would urge our youngsters to engage themselves in outdoor activities, play some sport, find some passion in life where you could be competing against your friends," he said.