PM Modi’s 79th Independence Day address charts bold roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 15, 2025

Delivering his longest and most decisive address from the Red Fort, lasting 103 minutes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today outlined an ambitious vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047, rooted in self-reliance, innovation, and citizen empowerment. He declared that India’s journey from a dependent nation to a globally confident, technologically advanced and economically resilient powerhouse is well underway, and the coming decades will cement its place among the world’s most influential nations.

In a speech that blended strategic clarity with a call to national pride, the Prime Minister hailed the recent Operation Sindoor, conducted after the Pahalgam attack, as a landmark in India’s assertion of strategic autonomy. Using only indigenous defence platforms, the operation dismantled cross-border terror infrastructure and sent an unmistakable message that India will no longer tolerate nuclear blackmail or accept terms that compromise its sovereignty. On the Indus Waters Treaty, PM Modi was unequivocal, stating, “Blood and water will not flow together,” and calling the treaty unjust for irrigating enemy lands while Indian farmers suffered.

Reinforcing his Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda, he said dependence on others was a dangerous habit no nation could afford. He announced that India would roll out its first Made-in-India semiconductor chip by 2025 and open the nuclear sector to private participation, ushering in unprecedented opportunities in energy and technology. The National Critical Minerals Mission is now exploring 1,200 sites to secure resources essential for defence, industry, and energy, while the National Deepwater Exploration Mission will tap offshore reserves to boost energy self-sufficiency. India, he said, had already achieved 50% clean energy five years ahead of its 2030 target and aims to increase nuclear power capacity tenfold by 2047.

The Prime Minister called for complete self-reliance in pharmaceuticals, recalling how indigenous COVID-19 vaccines and platforms like CoWIN saved millions of lives globally. He urged researchers and entrepreneurs to develop and patent new medicines, vaccines, and treatments in India, transforming the country into a global hub of affordable and innovative healthcare.

Launching Mission Sudarshan Chakra to enhance India’s strategic defence capabilities, he pledged comprehensive public security coverage nationwide by 2035. Economic reform was also a central theme, with the creation of a Task Force for Next-Generation Economic Reforms. Having already abolished over 40,000 compliances and 1,500 obsolete laws, the government will by Diwali roll out a revamped GST regime reducing taxes on daily essentials, benefitting MSMEs, local vendors, and consumers alike.

Youth empowerment took centre stage with the launch of the ₹1 lakh crore PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, under which newly employed youth will receive ₹15,000, targeting 3 crore beneficiaries. He underscored that this would convert India’s demographic dividend into lasting economic prosperity. Farmers, whom he called the backbone of India’s prosperity, were assured unwavering support, with the announcement of the PM Dhanya Dhanya Krishi Yojana for 100 backward farming districts to bolster productivity and income.

The address also touched on national integrity through the High-Powered Demography Mission, aimed at countering illegal infiltration and safeguarding livelihoods in border regions. In the space sector, he noted that preparations for India’s own space station are in full swing, building on the Gaganyaan mission’s momentum, with over 300 startups innovating in satellite and exploration technologies.

PM Modi concluded by urging every citizen to participate in the making of a self-reliant, powerful India — whether by buying India-made products, innovating in critical technologies, or contributing to science, entrepreneurship, and industry. “The strength of India lies in its people,” he said, expressing confidence that by the centenary of independence in 2047, the nation will stand as a Viksit Bharat — prosperous, powerful, and globally respected.