NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the nation from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort in Delhi as India celebrated its 80th Independence Day.Click here for live updatesIn a special first, National Song “Vande Mataram” was played for the first time at the ceremony.Greeting citizens on the 79th anniversary of Independence, the prime minister posted on X: “We remember with gratitude the countless freedom fighters whose courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment ensured the end of colonial rule. Their dreams continue to inspire us as we work together to build a Viksit Bharat.”“Powered by 140 crore Indians, our nation is scaling new heights of progress across different sectors. May this journey keep progressing at an even greater pace in the times to come,” he added.Here are the key highlights:80th Independence Day: PM Modi concludes address as Vande Mataram played againPrime Minister Narendra Modi concludes his address to the nation on 80th Independence Day. Vande Mataram played after his speech as well.80th Independence Day: 50 Indian companies in the Fortune 500PM Modi set an ambition for India to have 50 companies among the Fortune 500. He also called for Indian firms to emerge as global leaders across banking, pharma, law, consulting, accounting and technology.80th Independence Day: PM Modi calls for a drug-free IndiaPM Modi highlighted the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan and urged families to join the campaign against drug abuse. He called for collective efforts to protect young people from the menace of drugs.80th Independence Day: PM Modi on India’s First Digital CensusThe prime minister noted that India’s first Digital Census is currently underway. He urgrf families to sit together and provide accurate information. He stressed that reliable data will help the government formulate better policies.80th Independence Day: PM Modi calls 33% women’s reservation ‘need of the hour’33% reservation for women is call of the hour, appeal to all parties to support and take credit for it: PM Modi.80th Independence Day: PM Modi announces “Saptdhara” reforms for Viksit BharatAddressing the nation from the Red Fort, PM Modi outlined his ‘Sapt Dhara’ (seven streams of strength) vision, calling for India to harness its potential in agriculture and food processing, technology and innovation, Gati Shakti, defence, the green and blue economy, and soft power. He said the initiative, along with the energy and talent of India’s youth, would help the country achieve in the next five to seven years what could not be accomplished in the previous five to seven decades.
- Manufacturing power: Build complete domestic end-to-end value chains, from design to components, focusing on zero-defect quality, cost, and global scale
- Agriculture and food processing: Create integrated farm-to-export supply chains for millets, spices, and fruits while transitioning to chemical-free farming
- Technology and innovation: Evolve from a tech market into a global innovation hub leading in AI, Quantum, Space, Robotics, DPI, and Made-in-India 6G
- Gati Shakti: Establish high-speed, seamless multimodal logistics connecting cities, highways, rail, airports, and modern industrial sea ports
- Defence Shakti: Achieve complete strategic self-reliance by pioneering and exporting next-gen defence technologies like drones, counter-drone systems, and hypersonics
- Green and Blue Economy: Scale sustainable growth through Green Hydrogen, renewables, and energy storage alongside full utilization of ocean, coastal, and marine potential
- India’s soft power: Globalize Indian culture, Yoga, Ayurveda, and tourism while establishing global leadership in gaming, VFX, animation, and the creative economy
80th Independence Day: More semiconductor plants likely to become operational in next seven-eight yearsPM Modi said India has made significant progress towards self-reliance in the semiconductor sector, with three major plants already operational and their output being exported. He added that another five to eight semiconductor plants are expected to become operational over the next seven to eight years.80th Independence Day: India to get five nuclear reactors in this decade, says PM ModiEnergy security is the demand of the time. We are moving forward with the aim of 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2047. We aim to start five new nuclear reactors in this decade: PM Narendra Modi80th Independence Day: PM Modi reiterates vision of a developed India by 2047PM Modi reiterated India’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047, when the country marks 100 years of independence, and said the vision would require the collective effort and hard work of its 1.4 billion citizens.80th Independence Day: PM Modi assures flood-hit families of nation’s support“Recently, parts of the country have been hit by floods and landslides. Many families have been affected, and we deeply empathise with their suffering. I assure the affected families that the government and the entire nation stand with them,” PM Modi said during his address.80th Independence Day: 5,000 guests from diverse backgrounds attend Independence Day celebrationsThe special invitees included beneficiaries of various government schemes, women entrepreneurs, volunteers, farmers, artisans, sanitation workers, students, innovators, scientists, start-up founders, interns and other top-performing citizens. Over 1,500 people from different states and Union territories, dressed in traditional attire, also attended the ceremony.80th Independence Day: PM Modi’s signature turbanPM Modi Modi arrived at the Red Fort on Saturday wearing a striking red tie-and-dye turban with a long trailing end. The turban featured intricate red, green and white patterns, reflecting styles associated with Rajasthani and Gujarati traditions.
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Read full story here80th Independence Day: ‘Vande Mataram’ played for first time as PM Modi hoists TricolourNational song “Vande Mataram” was played for the first time at the Independence Day ceremony. PM Modi began his speech by addressing this, saying, “This is the first time since independence that Vande Matram has resonated from ramparts of Red Fort.”80th Independence Day: PM Modi’s 13th Red Fort address This was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 13th consecutive Independence Day address since his first in 2014. Ahead of his national address, the prime minister visited Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
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