Independence Day 2026: Full Speech Transcript Of PM Modi’s Speech From The Red Fort | India News

Last Updated:August 15, 2026, 11:38 IST

Full text of PM Narendra Modi’s 80th Independence Day speech. Explore the vision for a Developed India by 2047 and the Saptadhara strategy.

My esteemed compatriots,

Today, as we all commemorate the 80th Independence Day celebrations, the palpitation of every heart resonates with the majestic cadence of Vande Mataram. Today, every domicile is adorned with the tricolour, every soul embodies the tricolour, and the nation, with unbridled fervour and exuberance, bearing novel resolves, is advancing forth today. I extend to you all, my most profound felicitations for this Independence Day.

Today, the nation renders solemn homage to those illustrious progeny, who have scaled the absolute zenith of sacrifice and martyrdom for the emancipation of our motherland. Through their asceticism, renunciation, and ultimate sacrifice, they expended their entire lifetimes singularly devoted to the pursuit of liberty. To all the freedom fighters, including the revered Bapu, and to those magnificent revolutionaries who ignited the grand legacy of self-sacrifice, today I bow in profound veneration.

For all of you who have graced this grand ceremonial congregation today, this is undeniably an epochal juncture. Post-independence, it is for the very first time on the 15th of August that the reverberations of Vande Mataram echo across the ramparts of the Red Fort. Today, as we, the citizens of this nation celebrate the sesquicentennial of Vande Mataram, what occasion could possibly be more consummate?

My esteemed compatriots,

In recent days, certain regions of our nation have endured the wrath of devastating floods and the catastrophe of landslides. Countless families have been profoundly afflicted. We acutely perceive and share in their anguish and tribulation. I offer my solemn assurance to the aggrieved families and assure that we, and the entirety of the nation, stand in resolute solidarity with them.

My esteemed compatriots,

A nation achieves true greatness and attains its ultimate vindication only when it propels itself forward upon the bedrock of its aspirations, its resolves, and its intrinsic prowess. My fellow citizens, navigating by the compass of trivial dreams is no longer tenable. We must harbour grandiose visions, as it is monumental dreams that expand the very horizons of our intellect. They broaden the vistas of our contemplation. Our resolves must be unwavering. When resolve is impregnable, the fortitude to carve a path through adversities and calamities manifests organically. Furthermore, my beloved compatriots, our aspirations too must be elevated. For it is only when our dreams are lofty, and resolves are supreme, the zenith of our capabilities ascend correspondingly. The altitude of our endeavours is magnified, and only then may we bring our grandest visions to fruition.

My esteemed compatriots,

Today, India too has envisaged a colossal dream. We have envisioned it with unyielding determination. We have aspired to scale unprecedented zeniths. And that dream dictates that upon the centennial of our independence, in the year 2047, we shall definitively emerge as a developed India. We must attain this zenith through the relentless enterprise of our citizens in numbers exceeding 140 crores. And when a nation boasting the world’s most immense populace pledges to attain developed status, it serves as a testament to our formidable audacity in the eyes of the globe. The international community is thus compelled to radically alter its paradigm of perceiving us.

Beloved compatriots,

I do not articulate this vacuously. Over the past dozen years, crores upon crores of our citizens – be they marginalized, oppressed, deprived, indigenous, rural, urban, impoverished, of the middle class, youth, elderly, women, men, from the North, South, East, or West; each has, over the past 12 years, endeavoured unequivocally, with singular resolve and unwavering dedication, to propel the nation to uncharted altitudes. I acknowledge their monumental efforts with the utmost reverence. Consequently, in such a remarkably brief span, 25 crore compatriots have vanquished destitution and emerged liberated from the clutches of poverty.

It is precisely the culmination of these citizens’ endeavours that we, once relegated to the ignominious ‘Fragile Five’, have metamorphosed within twelve years into the most rapidly ascending titan among major economies. Comrades, the nation attained independence harbouring a multitude of dreams, yet we have failed to harness the requisite momentum; we could not capture the velocity. ‘It happens,’ ‘it goes on,’ ‘it shall be done,’ ‘we shall see’ – we have remained ensnared in such lethargy.

Prior to 2014, the entire global fraternity had effectively discarded us into the abyss of the ‘Fragile Five’. At such a critical juncture, over the past twelve years, India harnessed a novel momentum. We are advancing with breakneck velocity. And it is now the collective resolve of the citizenry that impeding the prowess and determination of 140 crore Indians is an absolute impossibility.

Beloved compatriots,

Over the preceding 12 years, defence manufacturing has proliferated virtually fourfold. The output of Khadi and village industries has escalated approximately quintuple. Electronic manufacturing has surged roughly sevenfold. The fabrication of avant-garde railway coaches has magnified twenty-one times over. Mobile telephony production has multiplied 33-fold. Furthermore, attuned to the modern epoch, we have triumphantly hoisted our standard in the realms of digital ingenuity and innovation. Internet consumers have quadrupled. The volume of patents granted has similarly grown fourfold.

Digital transactions have astronomically soared by a factor of one hundred. Concurrently, we have accorded equal gravity to the enhancement of amenities for the common citizen. On average, each year, we have expedited the provision of piped potable water connections fifteen times faster. Annually, on average, we have bestowed gas connections upon the populace at a velocity six times greater. We have accelerated the construction of lavatories for the indigent by four times annually. We have expedited the allocation of housing for the underprivileged at a pace thrice as rapid every year.

The nation has instituted profound metamorphoses in governance as well. Myriad bureaucratic compliances have been abolished. Hundreds of archaic statutes have been consigned to oblivion. A procession into the twenty-first century cannot be orchestrated with the legislative relics of the twentieth. We have expansively augmented the metro networks for cutting-edge infrastructure.

We have revitalized public transportation. The velocity of our work, the magnitude at which we have executed, and all this, this momentum, this expansion, these monumental achievements, has only been witnessed in the past decade for the very first time since independence. And when such a plethora of triumphs graces our presence, when such blistering momentum is palpable, when the capabilities of our compatriots manifest unceasingly, then the solemn pledge to forge a developed India by 2047 can never remain unfulfilled. This statistical tapestry stands as irrefutable testimony that we are poised for inexorable advancement.

My esteemed compatriots,

This endeavour, however, necessitates profound self-assurance. It demands an ethos of self-pride. Concurrently, the realization of a self-reliant India is absolutely imperative. Therefore, in recent years, it has been our unwavering conviction that India must no longer subsist in a state of dependency upon foreign shores. We must cultivate absolute self-reliance. The global market offers much – inexpensive and swiftly procured – yet that does not forge our intrinsic capability. Nor does it serve as a crucible for our prowess. Hence, we must exponentially augment our own capacities. We must be the architects of our own strategic interests’ security. Consequently, we are advancing with the resolute vow of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India). ‘Make in India,’ ‘Swadeshi’ (indigenous production), ‘Vocal for Local’ and in all these spheres, today, the soul of every Indian is inextricably intertwined.

My esteemed compatriots,

Allow me to furnish an illustration concerning semiconductors. Post-independence, the discourse surrounding semiconductors had already permeated the global stage. We, too, engaged in such deliberations, yet we failed to propel any substantial stratagem for semiconductors. And what is the paradigm today? In our contemporary digital epoch, in today’s technology, we profoundly comprehend the primacy of the microchip. Be it electronic commodities, our sophisticated medical apparatus, or our transportation networks, the microchip is an absolute requisite. And therefore, a predicament has arisen wherein the globe would grind to a halt in the absence of this chip.

Hence, in its trajectory toward self-reliance, India has initiated its own semiconductor facilities; three massive semiconductor plants have commenced operations. And I am apprised that the production emanating from these facilities has already embarked upon the path of exportation. And I wish to proclaim to my compatriots that in the ensuing seven to eight years, an additional five, seven, or eight semiconductor plants shall be inaugurated with utmost dispatch. This self-reliant India furnishes us with the grand thoroughfare leading towards a developed nation.

My esteemed compatriots,

An analogous discourse is presently unfolding regarding critical minerals. The entirety of modern technology is contingent upon critical minerals. India is vigorously engaged in fortifying its security in this domain as well. To ensure the objectives regarding critical minerals are shared, we have inaugurated the National Critical Mineral initiative. In our fiscal budget, we have heralded the creation of a Critical Mineral Corridor. Agreements are being and have been forged with numerous nations. A multitude of countries across the globe have now begun to place their trust in India concerning the domain of critical minerals.

My esteemed compatriots,

Akin to the discourse on semiconductors, or critical minerals, as we, and indeed the world – navigate towards advanced technologies, the pre-eminence of energy continues to magnify. Governing this new epoch devoid of energy is now an insurmountable challenge. And therefore, whether it be for microchips, artificial intelligence, or colossal data centres, our requisite for electricity shall be astronomical. Energy security is the absolute imperative of our times. Therefore, we have pre-emptively undertaken a succession of formidable strides in that trajectory.

A paramount conduit for energy security is atomic power, or nuclear energy. By legislating the Peace Act in Parliament, we have delineated the pathway towards a novel objective. By 2047, we are traversing with the aspiration of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear power. Within this very decade, we are harboring the ambition to commission five novel nuclear reactors. This year, India traversed a pivotal milestone by mastering Fast Breeder Nuclear Technology. Consequently, we have etched a monumental triumph in our trajectory towards absolute self-reliance in nuclear fuel.

My esteemed compatriots,

It is seldom the paucity of resources that stalls a nation’s progress. Rather, the genesis of stagnation lies in the confines of our own mindset. When our vision becomes shackled, and begins to languish within boundaries, we fail to recognize our intrinsic prowess. Today, the nation finds itself coerced into a dependency on crude oil. And this is the corollary of our own flawed paradigm.

You shall be astounded to learn, owing to such archaic thinking, we had unequivocally designated 99% of our expansive maritime coastline as a ‘No Go Area’. We ourselves had decreed a prohibition on conducting offshore exploration. This was the true poverty of intellect. We determined that this could not persist. That 99% which was erstwhile deemed a ‘No Go Area’, has now been liberated as a ‘Go Ahead Area’. Presently, we are profoundly inclined and tenaciously endeavoring toward executing subsea explorations to unearth novel reservoirs. Last year, we heralded the ‘Samudra Manthan’ (Ocean Churning) initiative, taking a consequential stride in that direction. And recently, we have elected to expedite this endeavour by allocating 85,000 crore rupees for this exact purpose.

My esteemed compatriots,

Regarding energy security, I must assert that it is utterly indispensable to channel our absolute vigour towards alternate sources. Therefore, optimizing energy utilization, India is currently advancing with formidable alacrity. Prior to 2014, meaning twelve years hitherto – within our nation, merely 70 cities boasted piped gas infrastructure; piped gas distribution was nominal. Within a dozen years, we have expanded these 70 cities to an overarching 700 municipalities.

This is velocity! This is expansion! Before 2014, scarcely 20 to 22 lakh households had access to piped gas. Today, the endeavour to supply piped gas to nearly 1.75 crore residences is underway. Twelve years prior, the nation’s solar energy capacity stood at a mere 2 gigawatts. 2 gigawatts! Today, we have attained a monumental target of 160 gigawatts.

My esteemed compatriots,

I impart yet another revelation. We have steadfastly focused our attention to ensure the dividends of this progress accrue to the nation’s middle class and common households. We instigated the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity scheme, and it brings me profound gratification today that in such a brief span, we have already eclipsed the milestone of equipping 50 lakh residences with solar energy, and the momentum accelerates.

Consequently, the electricity tariffs for thousands of domiciles have plummeted to zero. Thousands of households are presently generating auxiliary revenue by selling their surplus electricity after fulfilling their own consumption needs. To facilitate this, a governmental subsidy of 80,000 rupees is being disbursed to each participating family. It is through such robust backing that we are bringing this monumental task to fruition.

My esteemed compatriots,

You shall be startled to learn that the electrification of our vast railway network commenced in the year 1925. The electrification endeavour began in 1925, yet in 90 years, from 1925 onwards, over 90 years, only a mere 30% of our railways were electrified. Namely, 30% over 90 years. Observe our velocity! Witness our formidable sprint to seize our targets. Within this singular decade, we have flawlessly consummated one hundred percent of the work. 30% in 90 years; 70% in 10 years! This is the epitome of execution. And on account of this, the diesel which we were historically compelled to import, was conserved. Our locomotives ran on electricity, bestowing immense boons upon the environment.

My esteemed compatriots,

We have not halted here. We refuse to languish behind on the global stage. Recently, you must have caught wind of the tidings: India has broached a pioneering frontier in fuel technology. The nation has inaugurated its maiden hydrogen-powered locomotive. And I am elated to declare that it is the most elongated train, and the most formidable train; in the sphere of hydrogen-powered rail, India has firmly planted its sovereign flag globally.

Beloved compatriots,

For the past 10-12 years, we have run relentlessly to clinch the vision of 2047. We are cementing triumphs one echelon at a time. We had scarcely imagined that we would have to weather such formidable tempests in this journey. Over the past 10-12 years, we confronted a myriad of crises. A global pandemic akin to Corona plunged the entire world into profound consternation. All systemic orders crumbled. As we emerged from Corona, tidings of the horrors of war began to echo. Here in Ukraine, there in West Asia, an atmosphere of palpable tension pervaded everywhere. And who knows what ominous prophecies the soothsayers had promulgated.

To intimidate the nation, to keep the nation terrorized, to keep the nation fraught with anxiety, certain elements derive perverse delight in this. “Vaccines shall not be procured,” “people shall perish during COVID,” “nothing will endure.” When the West Asian crisis erupted: “petrol shall be absent from the pumps,” “gas shall be unobtainable,” “diesel shall vanish,” “fertilizers shall cease.” By disseminating such global fallacies, certain factions relished in their attempts to frighten and terrorize the Indian populace, plunging them into an abyss of despair.

But the nation has witnessed that the meticulously conceived stratagems of the past 10-12 years are bearing exquisite fruit. And we, despite such monumental crises, living by the noble doctrine of ‘The Citizen is Divine’, the profound preparations India had orchestrated, the meticulous steps undertaken sequentially—we had not anticipated such a calamity, yet in the crucible of that crisis, all these systemic fortifications proved indispensable. And today, the nation possesses gas, it possesses petrol, it possesses urea. We are standing and marching proudly upon our intrinsic strength.

My esteemed countrymen,

The reverberations of these global crises impacted everyone; we too were not immune. The global price of urea catapulted to 3000 rupees per sack. Even today, we refuse to compel the farmers of my nation to bear that crushing burden. The government shoulders that colossal weight. And the sack of urea that we procure globally for 3000 rupees, we bestow upon our farmers for a mere 300 rupees. Furthermore, the market price for DAP globally has breached 5000, yet to spare our farmers any tribulation, we continue the noble enterprise of providing DAP at 1350 rupees.

My beloved compatriots,

There was an epoch when I articulated the vision of self-reliance, and certain individuals – those ensconced in air-conditioned chambers – pontificated to us about the fate of globalization. Yet the world observes that over the past decade, it appears the globe has altogether ceased uttering the term ‘globalization’. The very quarters from which the clarion calls of globalization emanated, now lie conspicuously silent. Every nation across the globe has retreated into the temperament of its own insular concerns. But tragically, during this epoch of crisis, to assert their hegemony, certain factions have engaged in the nefarious gambit of weaponizing resources.

The world is currently engrossed in weaponizing whatever assets it possesses. The weaponization of resources! The weaponization of assets! Petrol, diesel, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, technological microchips, indeed, even geographical territories are being weaponized. In such an era, had we not steadfastly marched for a decade upon the path of self-reliance, we can only fathom how we might have robustly countered such formidable challenges. And our preparedness is augmenting ceaselessly.

My esteemed compatriots,

Conversely, today, India’s global profile is experiencing an absolute renaissance. Today, India is emerging as an embraced and deeply revered nation in the eyes of the world. India possesses a resolute political mandate. We possess a stable government. India boasts a vibrant democracy. India commands a robust judiciary. And we are universally guided by the Constitution of India. And now the world has begun to recognize these formidable capabilities of ours.

Consequently, post-2014, nearly 40 nations globally are forging Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with us. Observe the magnitude of this unfolding opportunity. These trade agreements represent an exceptionally colossal opportunity. And therefore, I especially wish to implore our Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), that we must not let this golden opportunity slip. We must penetrate the global sphere. Every Indian-manufactured commodity must reach the international bazaars. And whether it be our textiles, our machinery, or our pharmaceuticals, we must seize this moment. However, we must invariably surpass the stringent global parameters. We must offer superior quality than what the world provides. We must supply it more economically than the global market.

From Ludhiana in Punjab, to Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, this, our textile sector, can envelop the globe. Furthermore, from Kerala to Gujarat, and from Tamil Nadu to Bengal, our expansive coastline, our fisher brethren and sisters, today, courtesy of these FTAs, a magnificent potential has emerged for the export of our shrimp. Our seafood harbours immense potential to captivate global palates. Therefore, I implore that we leverage these propitious circumstances, and as we forge ahead, we endeavour relentlessly to conquer these frontiers.

My esteemed compatriots,

The exposition I have laid before you is underpinned by the truth that the vision of 2047 rests upon these impregnable foundations. The objective of a developed India by 2047 is intrinsically tethered to the prowess showcased by our compatriots over the past 10-12 years. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, a quarter of this century has already elapsed. The impending quarter is of paramount significance for us. We can no longer halt. Our momentum must not wane. Our trajectory is resolutely charted; we must attain our zenith. To this end, we must revolutionize our work culture.

As we transform our work culture, we must simultaneously transmute our mindset. We must radically accelerate the velocity of our execution. The tasks left unaccomplished over the past 5-7 decades, we are compelled to execute within the forthcoming 5-7 years. And my unwavering faith resides in the youth power of my nation. In the young men of my country. In the mothers and sisters of my nation. In the farmers of my land. In the labourers of my nation. That we can unequivocally metamorphose this dream into reality.

Therefore, we must also accelerate the tempo of our reforms. And when I articulate reform, reform is by no means a compulsion for us. Reform is not a constraint born of desperation. For us, reform is a profound conviction. Out of sheer conviction, we have embarked upon the express lane of reform, and in the impending days, we shall ascend to the next echelon of reforms. Hence, the government, society, industry, manufacturers, farmers—every entity must reform its traditional paradigms. We must reform our mindsets.

We must reform our very ambitions. Consequently, my esteemed compatriots, we must march forth with a definitive trajectory. Today, I wish to evoke that glorious epoch when the nation, the formidable prowess of India – was acknowledged, understood, and celebrated as the ‘Sapta Sindhu’ (The Seven Rivers). Now, to forge a developed India, we require a novel confluence of streams.

Today, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I invoke before the nation the Seven Streams of Power (Saptadhara). In the impending 5-7 years, what remained undone in the preceding 5-7 decades, through the prowess and might of these Seven Streams, we shall bestow upon the nation unprecedented altitudes and velocity, equipping it with the capability to conquer novel horizons. Concomitantly, the formidable potential of our nation’s youth shall be unequivocally harnessed for nation-building. Their vigour shall be seamlessly integrated in the days to come.

When I articulate the ‘Saptadhara‘ (Seven Streams), the premier power of the Saptadhara is manufacturing power. My esteemed compatriots, we must propel the manufacturing sector to phenomenal heights. Beyond merely augmenting production, we must fabricate the most intricate components, as well as colossal end-products. The entire value chain must be unequivocally ours. To achieve this, we require components, and we require comprehensive manufacturing; we demand complete products. From conceptual design to final manufacturing, India must emerge as the unimpeachable, trusted epicenter of the global supply chain. To this end, I wish to place extraordinary emphasis on three tenets.

To my brethren in the manufacturing domain: this is the epoch, this is the grand opportunity; do not let this moment evade you. For this, in matters of cost, quality, and scale, we must impeccably fulfill global benchmarks. Our factories must be fiercely competitive; our products intuitively user-friendly; our packaging must be aesthetically captivating and irresistible to the global populace. Our ‘Zero Defect’, precision manufacturing must become our sovereign hallmark. To every manufacturer, every entrepreneur, every MSME, I decree: in the global bazaar, our identity must be anchored in absolute reliability and unassailable excellence. No compromise regarding quality! Therefore, our mantra must singularly be quality, quality, quality. This shall forge our enduring global brand equity.

My esteemed compatriots,

The secondary power of this Saptadhara is agriculture and food processing. Food processing! We must boldly advance in this trajectory. Our farmers—the global bazaars have now been unfettered; via FTAs, a colossal market awaits us. We must penetrate it. We must seize that territory. We must traverse the journey from the agrarian fields directly to the export markets. Be it our traditional culinary heritage, our millets, our exquisite spices, our fruits, our floriculture—is there anything we lack? These must metamorphose into illustrious global brands. Our farmers shall vigorously champion chemical-free agriculture. Global demand for such purity is poised to escalate astronomically. And if our agro-products impeccably satisfy these global parameters, we shall effortlessly command the international markets.

The tertiary power of our Saptadhara is technology and innovation. My esteemed compatriots, today, is the epoch of artificial intelligence. Of quantum mechanics. Of space exploration. Of robotics. Of colossal data centres. An entirely novel frontier has been unsealed. And emerging technologies are perpetually, moment by moment, challenging us. Therefore, the nation must not merely relegate itself as a market for the world. We must ascend as the quintessential hub of innovation. In UPI and Digital Public Infrastructure, we have already compelled the world to acknowledge our mettle.

We have introduced our formidable might. Now, India must propagate Digital Public Technologies to the furthest reaches of the globe. India must lead in next-generation communication technology. Made-in-India 6G must permeate every corner; this must be our resolute ambition. We must accelerate our strides herein, and our endeavours in this domain must be unyielding.

The quaternary power of the Saptadhara is Gati Shakti (Infrastructure/Momentum). In order to harness Gati Shakti We must intensely prioritize seamless, rapid connectivity within the nation. We must interconnect our metropolises with high-speed rail. We demand avant-garde modern highways. We require inland waterways. We necessitate world-class airports. We demand sophisticated multimodal logistic frameworks. We must transcend the paradigm of viewing ports merely as depots for loading and unloading cargo, or merely as anchorages for global vessels. We must propel our ports in the trajectory of port-led development and growth.

Our quinary power, of the Saptadhara, is Raksha Shakti (Defence Power). And the eminence of this defence power is absolute in every respect. My esteemed compatriots, attaining self-reliance in defence – India has now apprehended, and the world has witnessed, that there is no alternative to this. When the world is singularly obsessed with its own insular interests, India cannot merely subsist as a consumer market for the globe. We must achieve absolute autarky in the realm of defence. By developing next-generation defence technologies, we must march with the definitive objective of emerging as a global supplier. We must cultivate drone, and counter-drone systems. And in hypersonic defence technologies, we must unequivocally seize the leadership mantle. Comrades, cyber security is rapidly becoming a formidable menace for every household today. That, too, constitutes a critical theater of defense, wherein the prodigious prowess of our youth can be masterfully deployed for the fortification of our nation and the world.

Our senary power of the Saptadhara is the green economy. The blue economy, which simultaneously spawns green jobs. Green hydrogen, renewable energy, energy storage, green mobility, green manufacturing – on a global scale, we must conquer these domains. While the world perpetually deliberates upon global warming, we are actively unearthing pathways. We are furnishing tangible solutions to these crises. And India must helm this green movement with monumental vigour. India possesses boundless opportunities for the blue economy as well. We boast an extraordinarily expansive coastline. The blue economy offers magnificent prospects. Fisheries. Coastal tourism. Ocean technology. There are a multitude of such spheres wherein we can ascend to prominence.

My esteemed compatriots,

When India embarks upon the discourse of the Saptadhara, our septenary stream, holding profound significance for the world at large, is indeed, India’s soft power. The sheer might of India’s soft power! Today, Yoga has intricately tethered the entire globe to India. Yoga is rapidly emerging as a vitalizing energy for the world. It is becoming a profound catalyst for global trust in India. An India which houses the epicentres of spiritual devotion; an India which possesses the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda; the manner in which India commands the holistic healthcare ecosystem, the ‘Heal in India’ movement—we can proudly project our formidable capabilities onto the global arena.

Be it our exquisite handicrafts, our rich culture, our cinematic brilliance, our creative universe, VFX, our animation, our gaming industry, our digital content—within the creative cosmos, India can assert its majestic dominion. We must meticulously cultivate this into a global powerhouse. Today, India has infused the ‘WAVES’ summit with tremendous momentum. Gradually, the world is eagerly anticipating this World Audio Visual And Entertainment Summit of India, which shall familiarize the globe with India’s soft power and its resplendent creative universe.

My esteemed compatriots,

India is endowed with colossal forest and wildlife wealth. We possess over a hundred national parks. The potential is astronomical, yet in alluring foreign tourists, we have fallen short. Through the conduit of our soft power, we possess the grand opportunity to captivate global tourists towards India. We must exhibit our grandeur to the world. We shall accomplish this with utmost ease. And very swiftly, we shall integrate these populaces. Today, in the global arena, sports likewise serve as a monumental magnet for India. Why should premier global sporting events not be hosted in India? The concert economy is burgeoning; it holds massive allure for the nation’s youth. Every global artist harbours the aspiration to orchestrate a concert upon Indian soil at least once. This is an exceedingly grand opportunity. We must construct the requisite infrastructure to mobilize this.

Comrades, these seven powers of the Saptadhara do not solely pertain to progressing within a singular sector. With a profoundly holistic approach, the nation must – commensurate with the objectives and ambitions we harbour, and strive to transcend that scale of excellence.

My esteemed compatriots,

I have delineated certain facets, but my vision extends far beyond. I wish to vigorously stir the conscience of the nation. I wish to awaken the latent power of this country. The nation is not merely synonymous with the government. The nation signifies the active engagement of every citizen. Can we not envision, as we frequently hear the discourse surrounding the Fortune 500, that in the impending decade, why shouldn’t 50 of these Fortune 500 enterprises be Indian? Why shouldn’t this be our definitive aspiration?

Today, the banking sector is flourishing majestically. Among the top echelons of global banks, why shouldn’t the flag of an Indian bank flutter proudly? An Indian bank must unequivocally secure a position among the top five banks globally. India’s pharmaceuticals—in the realm of pharma, we have accomplished monumental feats. Yet the imperative of the hour is that among the top five pharmaceutical titans globally, the names of one or two Indian pharma enterprises must resound. India—we possess law firms, we have rating agencies.

Is it not the mandate of our times that global leadership in these arenas must now reside in our hands? Why shouldn’t an Indian consulting firm, an accounting firm, rank among the zenith of global firms? Our technology enterprises must be the absolute sovereigns of the world; this must be our objective. We must cultivate such brands that magnetize the world. Our brands must become the very emblem of our nation, and transform into an ultimate destination for the global populace. We must labour relentlessly in that trajectory.

And to this end, I wish to address the state governments, I wish to address the institutions of local self-governance: it is equally the solemn obligation of the Government of India that we drastically accelerate the momentum of our reforms. We must evolve our systemic frameworks in absolute congruence with the vision of 2047. We can no longer navigate by the archaic statutes of a bygone era; we must forge our policies and regulations in alignment with the dreams of tomorrow. And if we forge them thus, I harbour absolute conviction, and I offer my solemn assurance to my compatriots, that upon this very path, sparing no effort whatsoever, we shall definitively realize the grand dream of a developed India.

We must march in absolute unison. Be it the central government, the state governments, or the industry, we must all collectively advance. We must persistently innovate reforms; we must propel reforms forward. And as I have articulated previously, we are executing reforms not out of compulsion, but out of profound conviction. We execute them to attain our supreme objectives.

My esteemed compatriots, when I speak of a developed India, when I articulate the rapid propulsion of our nation, who is its paramount beneficiary? Who is the greatest seeker in all these endeavours? If there is a seeker, it is the youth of my nation. It is the youth power of my country. Youth command an incredibly monumental role in the odyssey towards a developed India.

Moreover, the most profound beneficiary of a developed India is indeed the youth of my nation. And therefore, we must advance the objective of a developed India by inextricably linking it with our youth. With our youth as our absolute, supreme priority, we must march forward. Comrades, over the past 10-12 years, tremendous strides have been taken in that direction. Through the Startup India crusade, today, across the length and breadth of the nation, over two and a half lakh registered startups have materialized.

The young men of our nation are not only forging their own destinies, but are dispensing employment to multitudes. A 1 lakh crore rupee innovation fund has been heralded by the Government of India. I wish to declare to the young men of this nation: bring forth your grandest dreams! We shall ensure no paucity of resources. 1 lakh crore rupees—to empower your intellect and imagination, such an infrastructure we have meticulously established. Novel avenues for research have emerged. The Digital India initiative’s new, economical data has profoundly empowered our youth. If economical data exists anywhere on the globe, it is upon Indian soil. And this has bestowed unprecedented vigour upon the nation’s youth. We have instituted Skill India as a national programme. We have unsealed the space sector. We have formulated a National Drone Policy.

We have crafted the Khelo India Policy. For 35 years, a cohesive education policy was absent; we have ushered in a revolutionary new education policy. And the dividends of this have significantly graced our middle-class families. Comrades, from 2004 to 2014—I must present these statistics to you—from 2004 to 2014, within our nation, there were fewer than 350 universities. And today, within a mere 10-12 years, approximately 650 novel universities have been established. We are rapidly approaching the milestone of one thousand. Prior to 2014, there were merely 400 medical seats. Today, the number of medical seats is hovering around eight hundred and fifty.

Furthermore, foreign universities are now establishing their presence upon Indian soil. That my youth may acquire degrees from foreign universities whilst residing within India—provisions for this have already been meticulously laid. That the young minds of our nation be captivated by technology from their very infancy, we are laboring in that direction; thus, we have entrusted over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs to the care of our young children, so that their intellect may be steeped in innovation and technology.

For our youth over 12 years of age, we have unlocked myriad pathways. We have completely unsealed the startup ecosystem. As you may have observed, India’s private startups, helmed by youth averaging a mere 28 years of age, have successfully launched their satellite on their very first attempt globally! And they launched a rocket! They have executed a monumental feat, comrades! Today, there are roughly over two and a half lakh registered startups. Recently, we convened the AI Impact Summit.

The expansion of artificial intelligence is accelerating at a blistering pace. From the Red Fort, I wish to make a proclamation for the youth of our nation. We have resolved that in the impending year, we shall undertake the colossal task of providing AI skill training to 1 crore youths. So that the youth of our nation possess the formidable capability to lead even in the realm of AI. My esteemed compatriots, the bio economy is a pristine frontier. There was an epoch, prior to 2014, when the bio economy commanded a mere 60,000 crore rupees.

Behold the marvels the youth of my nation have wrought! When policies are righteous, when the objective is crystalline, observe the phenomenons the youth of my nation actualize! In the bio economy, the nation’s youth power has exhibited its supreme prowess. The enterprise that stood at 60,000 crores before 2014, today, that very bio economy has breached the 20 lakh crore mark, my friends! During the 2009-10 epoch, a paltry 25 lakh—pardon, 1.5 lakh—electric vehicles were sold in our nation. 1.5 lakh electric vehicles were sold. 1.5 lakh electric vehicles in 2009-10.

In this current period of ’25-’26, 25 lakh electric vehicles have been sold. My esteemed compatriots, the aviation sector too is advancing with breakneck speed for my youth. New airports, new routes are birthing unprecedented avenues for employment. Through maintenance and overhauling, consequently, a colossal volume of skilled manpower is finding lucrative engagement within the country. In the endeavour to manufacture made-in-India aeroplanes, we have achieved resounding success. The made-in-India defense transport aircraft, C-295, has already taken flight, it has executed a triumphant maiden voyage. This is for the youth of our nation.

My comrades, drones, too, have executed monumental tasks. Through the SVAMITVA scheme in our villages, using drones, the SVAMITVA scheme is attaining glorious fruition. Approximately 3.25 crore families have reaped the dividends of the SVAMITVA scheme. And consequently, assets worth a staggering 140 lakh crore rupees have been unlocked. Enabling citizens to secure bank loans and embark upon their entrepreneurial ventures. My esteemed compatriots, before our middle-class families, the cutthroat competition of coaching classes has emerged as an excruciatingly heavy burden.

Every parent feels that failure to enroll their child in a coaching class compromises the family’s prestige. Harbouring deep concern for these impoverished and middle-class families, to spare them the expenditure of thousands of crores, to allow sons to remain close to home, receiving proper care, to prevent absolute financial devastation of the family—therefore, we have resolved to provide free online coaching for various competitive examinations for our youth. We possess Digital Public Infrastructure, we possess paramount talent, exceptional educators; by amalgamating these resources, we are poised to construct an expansive network to dispense free coaching to the youth of the nation.

My esteemed compatriots,

I have eternally maintained: he who plays, blooms. When I speak of ‘he who plays, blooms,’ my esteemed compatriots, today, India is carving its majestic niche in the global sporting arena. Now, atop sporting podiums, India’s national song resonates, India’s national anthem echoes, and the Indian tricolor is seen fluttering majestically. The TOPS scheme has achieved phenomenal success. Khelo India Games, University Games, Winter Games, Beach Games, sports infrastructure, coaching for sports, sports medicine, sports nutrition—in all these disciplines, India is now advancing towards absolute mastery.

An entirely novel sphere has opened for our youth; if one cannot become an athlete, within its support system too, a colossal frontier is unlocking. In the realm of global sports, India’s performance has been continually ascending, and we are marching forward as formidable contenders to host the Olympics in 2036. And in 2030, India is slated to host the Commonwealth Games. And my comrades, in the global Olympic Games, there are approximately 40 distinct categories of sports. And roughly 325 to 350 individual events in the Olympics.

And it will grieve you to know, my compatriots, my youth—I challenge you, I invoke you, I seek your assistance! Out of roughly 325 events, in two-thirds of the sports, India is entirely conspicuously absent. We have zero presence. We fail to even qualify. We have resolved that for the Olympics in 2036—which we fervently desire to be hosted in India—but by 2036, in those disciplines where India presently does not compete, in those disciplines where India fails to qualify, in those events which India has entirely forsaken, that three-fourths portion which awaits us—India shall thrust its absolute might into them.

And to this end, we intend to launch a massive talent hunt crusade. If we desire athletes for 2036, we must focus upon the youth, the sons who are today 5, 10, or 15 years of age; we must bestow our attention upon those daughters. Therefore, to unearth sporting prodigies among children aged 5 to 15, in every village, every city, every school, a talent hunt crusade shall be vigorously executed. The innate brilliance of children shall be identified, and subsequently, by imparting specialized training, they shall be forged into magnificent athletes to represent the nation.

My beloved youth,

Before the nation, before the youth of the nation, substance abuse is metastasizing into a catastrophic crisis. A drug-free India must be our collective, sacred obligation. For our resplendent future, that our younger generation remains robust, that our youth’s prowess serves the glory of our nation, thus, a drug-free India. Recently, the volunteers of My Bharat, the NGOs of the nation, the social and cultural organizations of the country, the spiritual luminaries of the nation, collaboratively decreed a 100-week programme for a drug-free India. This crusade shall span 100 weeks. I implore every family to become an integral part of this crusade. Unite with this cause, and to fulfill the grand dream of a drug-free India, step forward.

My esteemed compatriots,

In the 21st century, the eradication of decades-old challenges is absolutely imperative. Naxalism, Maoism—they decimated the futures of millions of youth. Snatched away the innocent young sons of countless mothers, ruined them, and shattered the dreams of every parent into absolute oblivion. This Naxalism, for four grueling decades, held a colossal expanse and a massive populace of Hindustan in its suffocating grip. It held them hostage at the barrel of a gun. It shredded the Constitution to pieces.

And in the defense of the nation’s ordinary citizens, over three and a thousand of our police and security force personnel attained martyrdom. The number of soldiers who perish in wars—even greater than that, our police personnel had to lay down their lives to ensure the safety of the common man. This Naxalism had turned the earth utterly blood-soaked. In 2014, when you bestowed the mandate upon us, on that very day, we took a solemn vow that we would emancipate the nation from Naxalism. And today, I am elated that Naxalite-Maoist violence lacks the vitality to even draw its final breath. In the trajectory of its absolute annihilation, where once the bullets of Naxalites echoed, where once the earth remained drenched in blood, today, in those very Naxal territories, in those very regions, due to their liberation from Naxalism, the tricolor of development, trust, and endeavour is fluttering majestically.

My esteemed compatriots,

However, we must not underestimate this menace. We must remain even more profoundly vigilant against this threat. For years, within the corridors of the nation’s power, individuals harboring Maoist ideologies had comfortably entrenched themselves. Even as advisors in governmental committees, this Maoist ideology had insidiously influenced our policies. My esteemed compatriots, in the jungles, in the jungles, we have achieved resounding success in orchestrating the demise of armed Naxalites, liberating the nation from that crisis.

But, though the armed Naxals may have perished, the intellectual Naxals—these ideological Naxals are lurking in wait for an opportunity. They are excavating pathways to violence and anarchy. They are deploying myriad sinister stratagems to drag society onto the path of ruin. These intellectual Naxals must be unmasked. These intellectual Naxals must be wholly isolated. And the youth of the nation must be integrated into the mainstream, towards the grand vision of forging a developed nation.

My esteemed compatriots,

Forging a secure India is our collective obligation. Whether the challenge originates from within our borders, or from beyond our frontiers, India is absolutely prepared for every eventuality. Today, the very nature of warfare is mutating. It is no longer guaranteed that war occurs solely upon the borders. Today, warfare penetrates deep within our borders, targeting a refinery here, assaulting the banking sector there, striking a data centre elsewhere—it is, in essence, a novel manifestation of warfare. Infrastructure is being annihilated, factories are being decimated.

Recently, we heralded the ‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra’. Execution is proceeding with blistering velocity. Today, our defense exports have magnified nearly 50-fold. Our weaponry and armaments are reaching approximately 100 nations. On the global stage, India’s prestige is steadily ascending. In these transformative times, we must persistently advance our weaponry.

We must exponentially augment the prowess of our armed forces. But concurrently, we must prepare our civilian populace. The civil defense frameworks developed within our nation, modeled after the wars of the previous century, have become utterly archaic. And therefore, today from the Red Fort, I proclaim that we, in the impending days, shall construct a highly vibrant civil defense network. We shall familiarize them with state-of-the-art, modern systems. What mechanisms can be deployed to protect citizens from contemporary, modern crises? We are poised to forge a colossal voluntary force for civil defense, fully equipped to conquer modern, cutting-edge challenges.

My esteemed compatriots, in the grand enterprise of nation-building today, the monumental contributions of our sisters and daughters serve as an immense source of profound inspiration for us all. Be it fighter jets or civil aviation, our daughters are visibly leading the vanguard. Upon the athletic fields, our daughters are visibly dominant. In the enrollment processes for STEM education, our daughters are overwhelmingly at the forefront. Today, even within the armed forces, the young women graduating from the NDA are beginning to demonstrate, with majestic aplomb, the formidable capability to command the nation’s military. To gauge the sheer might of my daughters, I recently visited Sanand, to a semiconductor plant.

There, indigenous daughters, daughters who had migrated from disparate corners of the nation, were employed. They hailed from villages where they were completely oblivious to what a passport even entailed. Those daughters traveled abroad, acquired rigorous training, and today, they are executing the intricate task of microchip fabrication. And the supreme confidence—the confidence I witnessed in them—I was, in absolute truth, profoundly mesmerized. Today, the target to transform 3 crore—3 crore sisters into ‘Lakhpati Didis’ (women earning over 1 lakh rupees annually) that we had set, we have triumphantly surpassed. Now, we are marching forward with the resolute ambition of forging 6 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’. Forging 3 crore new Lakhpati Didis signifies a monumental metamorphosis in the rural economy, spearheaded entirely by Matru Shakti (Mother Power).

My esteemed compatriots,

Today, in the panchayats, the municipalities, and the municipal corporations, an overwhelming multitude of our women are serving as public representatives, guiding the destiny of the nation. They are resolving complex crises. They are providing exceptionally competent leadership. And deeply cognizant of this, we had legislated the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women’s Reservation Bill) in Parliament. However, for one reason or another, in the political amphitheater, for the past 40 years, this dream had perpetually fallen prey to political machinations. From the ramparts of the Red Fort today, standing under the majestic shadow of the tricolor, I implore, I urge all the political parties of the nation.

Come, become the venerators of the immense prowess of these women. Step forward in reverence of these women, and with the utmost dispatch, ensure our mothers and sisters secure 33% representation in the legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha, so they may contribute their absolute brilliance to the formulation of India’s policies. It is the absolute imperative of the hour, and I appeal to all political parties once more: come, by implementing women’s reservation, join in the veneration of women, claim your rightful glory, but grant my mothers and sisters their unalienable right.

My esteemed compatriots,

The grand resolve of a developed India shall only attain absolute fruition when development touches the very last individual. Prior to 2014, a mere 25 crore individuals possessed the shield of social security. With the Ayushman Bharat scheme, even our elderly aged 70 and above are now getting free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh. Crores of families have benefited greatly from this, and because of the Ayushman card, ₹2 lakh crore that would have been spent on medicines and operations is being saved for poor and middle-class families.

My dear countrymen,

Today I must ask of your help with a task, and I ask this from all of you, especially the youth, to take the lead. Just one or two hours of your time will give great strength to the country. As we speak, the nation is going through the procedures of census counting. Counting alone doesn’t achieve results with just figures — policies and plans are made from its nuances, and the country prepares its roadmap for moving forward. That is why having accurate information is very important.

Sometimes the representatives who come from the government are in a hurry, and mistakes happen with spellings or details, which creates difficulties in getting the final results right. Now that the technology is available, a decision has been made that this time that you can fill in your own information for the census yourself, using your mobile phone. Later, an officer or representative from the Census bureau will come to discuss it with you, but if you sit with your family and complete your registration digitally, there will be no mistakes in the details or spellings. The more accurate the information you provide, the more it will help the country move forward.

My dear countrymen,

I have spoken of the Saptadhara from the Red Fort. This will give the country great strength to move forward with self-respect and with the ability to achieve its goals. We have to keep eradicating the mentality of slavery every moment.

The dream of India that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose saw, that Baba Saheb Ambedkar saw, that Pandit Nehru saw, that Sardar Patel, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru saw, that Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee saw, that Bhagwan Birsa Munda saw, that Jyotiba Phule saw – taking inspiration from all of them, we move forward.

Come, let us reiterate this resolve: let the nation’s interest be above our own, and let duty be our identity. The time is ours, the opportunity is ours, the resolve is ours. Come, let’s turn dreams into resolutions, resolutions into capabilities, and capabilities into success. Let us make every step a step towards development.

From a solitary lamp, may thousands be ignited, come, let us unite, to forge a developed India. With this singular, profound emotion, upon this auspicious festival, I extend my manifold felicitations to you all.

Chant with me, victory to Mother India! Victory! Victory to Mother India! Victory! Victory to Mother India! Victory! Vande Mataram! Vande Mataram! Vande Mataram! I thank you most profoundly.

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