New Delhi, August 15 (HS) :

On the occasion of the 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, delivering his address to the nation from the historic ramparts of the Red Fort on Friday, intertwined the concepts of national capability and self-reliance, urging the country to make united efforts to stride towards a Developed India. During his speech, he made significant announcements such as the Next Generation GST Reform to be introduced around Diwali, a High-Powered Demography Mission to address demographic shifts, and the commencement of the Sudarshan Chakra Mission pertaining to the defence sector.

Then Prime Minister announced several large-scale national missions aimed at fostering a self-reliant, secure, and prosperous India. He observed that the 21st century is technology-driven, and those nations that lead in technology are the ones attaining success. In this direction, he declared that India is working in mission mode in the semiconductor sector, and by the end of the year, 'Made-in-India' chips will be available in the market. In the energy sector too, India is making determined strides towards self-reliance in solar, hydrogen, and nuclear resources.

From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi proclaimed that the Government will implement the Next Generation GST Reform during the Diwali season. This reform—finalised after review by a high-level committee—will result in substantial reductions in taxes related to the common citizen, making essential goods more affordable and benefiting the MSME sector significantly.

The Prime Minister further announced the National Deep Water Exploration Mission and the National Critical Mission, aimed at discovering oil and gas reserves in the ocean and identifying critical minerals across more than 1,200 locations nationwide. For bolstering national security, he unveiled Mission Sudarshan Chakra, which will focus on the development of state-of-the-art weapons systems. The plan includes the deployment of advanced technological surveillance and defence equipment to safeguard the country’s strategic, civil, and religious sites.

Expressing concern over demographic changes in border areas, the Prime Minister announced the High-Powered Demography Mission to tackle the twin challenges of infiltration and population imbalance.

In the social arena, Prime Minister Modi announced the launch of a special programme on the bicentenary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, underscoring the latter's guiding principle of Prioritising the Marginalised as a pillar of national development. He assured the nation that he would personally stand against any measure that might harm the interests of farmers, fishermen, and livestock rearers.

The Prime Minister stressed that dependence on others casts a shadow over true independence. For self-reliance to be achieved, constant awareness and resolve are imperative. He emphasised that self-reliance is not merely an economic construct—it is deeply tied to national capability. To preserve and enhance national capacity, self-reliance is indispensable. He also called for the development of an indigenous jet engine for the ‘Make in India’ fighter aircraft programme.

Addressing the youth, he urged them to set self-reliance in technological and industrial domains as a national goal and to work towards it with resolute commitment. He likened their role in building a prosperous India to the monumental contribution made by the previous generation in winning the nation’s independence. He further highlighted the need for the manufacturing sector to move forward with the philosophy of “Lower Cost, Higher Quality”, thereby boosting competitiveness.

The Prime Minister also paid respectful homage to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on its centenary, acknowledging the organisation and its volunteers for devoting their lives to the service of Mother India, from personal character-building to the pledge of nation-building.

On the historic morning of August 15, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the National Tricolour atop the ramparts of the Red Fort to mark the 79th Independence Day. Prior to this, he visited Rajghat to pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Upon arrival at the Red Fort, he was accorded a Guard of Honour. After the flag unfurling, he stood in solemn respect to take the national salute to the sound of the National Anthem.

The tradition of flag hoisting and addressing the nation from the Red Fort traces its origin to the tenure of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, independent India’s first Prime Minister. Today, Shri Narendra Modi has become the second Prime Minister in the nation’s history to address the country from the Red Fort for twelve consecutive years.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar