New Delhi, August 15 (H.S.): In a historic address spanning 103 minutes — the longest and perhaps most definitive Independence Day speech of his tenure — Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unveiled an expansive vision for Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day, Modi’s message blended national pride with a call for self-reliance, innovation, and citizen-driven growth.

Framing the day as the “festival of 140 crore resolutions,” the Prime Minister declared that India’s next phase of transformation would be powered by strategic autonomy — from jet engines to semiconductors, from clean energy to defence, from agricultural strength to digital sovereignty.

Key Economic & Reform Announcements

Next-Generation GST Reforms: -To be rolled out by Diwali, featuring lower taxes on daily essentials to benefit MSMEs, local vendors, and consumers. These changes, Modi said, aim to make the tax system “transparent, efficient, and citizen-friendly.”

-Income Tax Relief: Tax exemption on incomes up to ₹12 lakh to support the middle class, alongside faceless assessments for transparency.

-Next-Gen Reform Task Force: A high-powered committee to overhaul laws and cut compliance costs for startups and small businesses, remove outdated regulations, and promote ease of doing business.

-Zero Defect, Zero Effect: Call for top-quality manufacturing at globally competitive prices.

-Fiscal Stability: India described as a “ray of hope” amid global instability, with disciplined macroeconomic management inspiring investor confidence.

Strategic & Defence Initiatives

-Operation Sindoor: Celebrated as a landmark in India’s self-reliant military capability, conducted entirely with Made-in-India weapons, dismantling cross-border terror infrastructure.

-Mission Sudarshan Chakra: A technological leap to neutralise enemy defence systems, inspired by the mythological weapon of Shri Krishna, aimed at rapid, precise, and decisive military responses.

-No Compromise on Security: India will not tolerate nuclear threats or terrorism, and reserves the right to act “at a time and place of our choosing.”

-Indus Waters Treaty Rejection: Declared “unjust” for allowing enemy lands to flourish while Indian farmers suffered; pledged to secure water rights.

-Nationwide Security Shield: By 2035, all public and strategic sites to be under comprehensive high-tech coverage.

-Energy & Resource Self-Reliance

National Deepwater Exploration Mission to tap offshore oil and gas reserves.

-National Critical Minerals Mission to explore 1,200 sites for strategic resources essential to industry, energy, and defence.

-Mission Green Hydrogen plus massive solar, hydro, and nuclear expansion, with nuclear output targeted to grow tenfold by 2047.

India has already achieved its 2030 target of 50% clean energy — five years ahead of schedule.

Digital and Technological Sovereignty

-Semiconductor Breakthrough: Made-in-India chips to launch by the end of 2025 — a delayed dream now revived after decades of missed opportunities.

-Calls for indigenous social media platforms, secure AI, cyber-defence, deep-tech, and home-grown operating systems.

-Inspiration from COVID-era digital platforms (like UPI and CoWIN) to scale innovation in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, including R&D for indigenous medicines and vaccines.

Agriculture, Rural Development & Farmers' Interests

-India leads globally in milk, pulses, and jute production, second in rice, wheat, and cotton; agriculture exports have crossed ₹4 lakh crore.

-Launch of PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana for 100 backward farming districts.

-Massive investment in irrigation, fertiliser self-sufficiency, quality seeds, and livestock welfare.

-Asserted unwavering support for farmers, vowing to block any detrimental policy.

Women & Social Welfare

-Target to make 3 crore women Lakhpati Didis, building on the success of self-help groups.

-Drone Didi and Nari Shakti initiatives spotlight women in cutting-edge tech and entrepreneurship.

-Over 25 crore citizens lifted out of poverty in the last decade, emergence of a “neo–middle class.”

-Strong push for developing aspirational districts and blocks to reduce regional inequality.

Space, Science & Youth

Indigenous astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s achievement hailed; India to have its own space station and expand its role in satellites and deep space exploration.

Over 300 Indian startups active in space technology.

-Sports culture revived — with a National Sports Policy moving youth from schools to Olympic podiums.

Urged using 10% less cooking oil to tackle obesity.

Culture & Heritage

-Launched Gyan Bharatam Mission to preserve manuscripts and ancient knowledge using modern technology.

-Marked milestones — 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, and 100 years of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

-Granted classical language status to Marathi, Assamese, Bangla, Pali, and Prakrit.

The Core Message

PM Modi’s overarching theme was clear: self-reliance is not just an economic concept; it is the backbone of national capability. Dependency, he warned, erodes sovereignty over time. From border security to space innovation, from grassroots entrepreneurship to global manufacturing competitiveness — every Indian, he said, has a role in building a “strong, united, and self-sufficient Bharat.”

Closing with a pledge to remove every remaining “particle of slavery” from India’s systems, laws, and mindset before 2047, the Prime Minister declared:

“We will neither stop nor bow. We will work tirelessly to see a Viksit Bharat with our own eyes in 2047.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar