On India’s 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a historic 103-minute speech from the Red Fort, setting a new record for the longest address by an Indian prime minister. The speech surpassed his previous record of 98 minutes from the 78th Independence Day, and in doing so, he also delivered his 12th consecutive Independence Day speech, second only to Jawaharlal Nehru’s record of 17.
The address was packed with significant announcements, outlining the government’s vision for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047. Here are five of the major initiatives and reforms announced:
1. Mission ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ to Modernize India’s Security
Emphasizing self-reliance in national security, PM Modi announced the launch of a new mission called ‘Sudarshan Chakra’. The mission, inspired by Lord Krishna’s divine weapon, aims to “expand, strengthen, and modernise” India’s security framework by 2035. The goal is to develop an indigenous, Iron Dome-like defense system to protect critical national sites, including civilian areas, from terrorist attacks and other threats. This powerful, domestically researched and manufactured system will not only counter but also strike back at terrorists.
2. Next-Generation GST Reforms as a ‘Diwali Gift’
In a major announcement for the economy and the common citizen, the Prime Minister promised a “Diwali bonanza” with next-generation GST reforms. These reforms, set to be unveiled by the festival of lights, will aim to reduce taxes on essential goods, providing relief to consumers, as well as to MSMEs and local vendors. He also announced the formation of a dedicated Reform Task Force to drive these and other next-generation reforms to accelerate economic growth, cut red tape, and prepare India for a USD 10 trillion economy by 2047.
3. PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana to Create 3.5 Crore Jobs
Addressing the issue of employment, PM Modi announced the launch of the ‘PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana’, a new scheme with a budget of ₹1 lakh crore. The initiative aims to create 3.5 crore jobs over the next two years. Under this scheme, newly employed youngsters will receive ₹15,000 per month as financial support. The government projects that this will benefit around three crore young Indians and strengthen the bridge to a prosperous India.
4. High-Powered Demography Mission
The Prime Minister also highlighted the national security challenges posed by demographic imbalances due to infiltration and illegal migration in border areas. To address this, he announced a high-powered demography mission to safeguard the unity, integrity, and rights of India’s citizens.
5. Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Energy by 2047
Modi outlined an ambitious plan for India’s energy future, stating that work is underway on 10 new nuclear reactors. As part of this mission, India aims to increase its nuclear power generation capacity by over ten times in the next two decades, positioning nuclear energy as a key pillar in the country’s long-term strategy for energy independence and a clean energy future.