The ChangeMakers Bureau
Posted On: 15 AUG 2026
1. General
Today, we are celebrating the 80th Independence Day. Today, the heartbeat of every Indian resonates with the chant of Vande Mataram.
Today, ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Hai, Har Man Tiranga Hai’ (the Tricolour is in every home and the Tricolour is in every heart). With enthusiasm and excitement, the nation is moving forward today with new resolutions.
Today, the nation fondly remembers those great sons and daughters of the soil who made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of the country. Through their penance, sacrifice and dedication, they devoted their entire lives to the single goal of independence.
I respectfully salute all the freedom fighters, including revered Bapu, and the great revolutionaries who inspired this noble tradition of sacrifice.
For the first time since Independence, Vande Mataram is resonating from the Red Fort on 15 August. And today, when we are celebrating 150 years of Vande Mataram, what could be a more auspicious occasion than this?
In recent days, several parts of the country have witnessed severe floods and landslides, affecting numerous families. We deeply understand and share their pain and suffering. I assure the affected families that we, and the entire nation, stand firmly with them.
A nation becomes great and achieves its aspirations when it moves forward on the strength of its dreams, its resolve and its capabilities.
Our aspirations, too, must be lofty. Because when our dreams are lofty and our resolve is strong, the heights of our capabilities also rise, the scale of our efforts also expands, and only then can we turn our dreams into reality.
Today, Bharat too has envisioned a very big dream. It has envisioned it with firm resolve, with the aim of reaching new heights. And that dream is this: when the country completes 100 years of Independence, we will build a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) in 2047.
We have to achieve this goal through the hard work and determination of 140 crore citizens. And when the world’s most populous nation resolves to become a developed nation, it becomes a reflection of our courage in the eyes of the world as well. The world is compelled to change the way it looks at us.
Over the past 12 years, crores of citizens of the country, whether Dalits, the oppressed, the deprived, tribals, those living in villages or cities, the poor or the middle class, the youth or the elderly, women or men, people from the North or South, East or West, everyone has made every possible effort to take the nation to new heights with resolve and dedication.
I respectfully acknowledge and honour their efforts. And it is the result of these efforts that 25 crore citizens have overcome poverty and moved out of poverty in such a short period of time.
It is the result of the efforts of these citizens that we were once counted among the Fragile Five. Yet, within just 12 years, we have emerged as the fastest-growing economy among the major economies of the world.
Over the past 12 years, defence production has increased nearly fourfold. Production in the Khadi and Village Industries sector has increased nearly fivefold. Electronics manufacturing has grown nearly sevenfold.
The production of modern railway coaches has increased 21-fold. Mobile phone production has increased 35-fold. And not only that, even in the world of digital technology and innovation, we have made our mark keeping pace with the demands of the modern era.
The number of internet users and internet consumers has increased nearly fourfold. The number of patents granted has increased fourfold.
Digital transactions have increased 100-fold. At the same time, we have worked with equal seriousness towards improving the everyday convenience and quality of life of ordinary citizens.
Every year, we have provided tap-water connections at an average rate 15 times faster than before.
Every year, gas connections have been provided at an average rate six times faster. Every year, the construction of toilets for the poor has progressed at a rate four times faster. And every year, the pace of providing homes to the poor has increased threefold.
The country has brought about significant changes in governance as well. Thousands of compliances have been eliminated. Hundreds of outdated laws have been repealed. We cannot march into the 21st century with laws belonging to the previous century.
We have expanded metro networks for modern infrastructure and strengthened public transport. The speed at which we have worked, and the scale at which we have worked, this pace, this expansion and these achievements are something that Bharat has witnessed for the first time since Independence over the past decade.
And when we have so many achievements before us, when such rapid progress is visible, and when the capabilities of our citizens are growing stronger with every passing moment, then our resolve for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 can never remain unfulfilled.
2. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
We too have to enhance our capabilities and safeguard our own interests. That is why we are moving forward with a very firm resolve to build ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (a self-reliant India). Today, the hearts and minds of every Indian are becoming connected with initiatives like Make in India, Swadeshi, Vocal for Local etc.
Since 2014, we have been entering into Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with nearly 40 countries around the world. Just look at the tremendous opportunity that has opened up. These trade agreements represent a very significant opportunity, and therefore, I especially want to tell our MSMEs: we must not let this opportunity pass us by.
We have to reach the world. Every Indian product must find its place in global markets. Whether it is our textiles, our machinery or our medicines, we must seize every opportunity. But we also have to meet and surpass global standards and parameters. We must offer the world something better than what we receive from it.
We have embarked on the Reform Express, and in the days ahead, we are going to move towards the next level of reforms. Therefore, everyone, including the government, society, industry, producers, farmers, will have to reform their traditional systems. We will have to reform our thinking and reform our goals as well.
When I speak of the ‘Sapt Dhara’ (seven streams of strength) in the days ahead, the first of these is the power of manufacturing.
We have to take the manufacturing sector to much greater heights. Along with increasing production, we must manufacture both the smallest components and the largest products.
The entire value chain must be ours. We need to move forward with that vision. We need the components, and we need complete manufacturing. We need to produce the complete product as well. From design to manufacturing, Bharat must become a trusted hub of the global supply chain.
Our factories must be competitive. Our products must be user-friendly. Our packaging must be appealing and attractive to people around the world. Zero-defect, precision manufacturing should become our identity.
I want to say to every manufacturer, every entrepreneur and every MSME: our identity in the global market must be built on reliability and quality. There can be no compromise on quality. And therefore, our mantra must be: Quality, Quality, Quality. This is what will become the foundation of our global brand value.
3. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
The government is shouldering a huge burden. A bag of urea that costs us 3,000 rupees in the global market is being made available to our farmers for just 300 rupees.
Not only that, the price of DAP in the global market has now reached 5,000 rupees, but we are still providing DAP at 1,350 rupees so that the farmers of my country do not face any difficulty.
The second stream of strength of this ‘Sapt Dhara’ is agriculture and food production. We have to move forward in the direction of food processing as well. The global markets are now opening up for our farmers.
Because of the FTAs, we are gaining access to a very large market. We have to reach those markets; we have to establish our presence there. We have to move from the farm all the way to the export market.
Our farmers should give greater emphasis to chemical-free farming, as the demand for such products is going to increase around the world. When our agricultural products meet and fulfil global parameters in every respect, we will be able to access global markets with ease.
4. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Mobile phone production has increased 35-fold. And not only that, even in the world of digital technology and innovation, we have made our mark keeping pace with the demands of the modern era.
The number of internet users and internet consumers has increased nearly fourfold. The number of patents granted has increased fourfold.
Digital transactions have increased 100-fold. At the same time, we have worked with equal seriousness to improve the convenience and quality of life of ordinary citizens.
In today’s digital world and in today’s era of technology, we understand the significance of the chip. Whether it is an electronic product, medical equipment, or our transportation systems, chips are indispensable everywhere.
We have reached a point where the entire world could come to a standstill without chips. That is why, Bharat has taken major steps towards semiconductor manufacturing in the direction of becoming self-reliant. Three semiconductor plants have already been initiated.
I want to tell the people of the country that in the coming seven to eight years, another five to eight semiconductor plants are expected to be established very soon. This journey towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ provides us with a highway towards becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The third stream of strength of my ‘Sapt Dhara’ is technology and innovation. Today is the age of AI, quantum technology, space, robotics and data centres. An entirely new field has opened up before us.
Emerging technologies are also challenging us at every moment. Therefore, we must not merely turn Bharat into a market for the world; we must make Bharat a hub of innovation.
We have demonstrated our capabilities and established our credentials through UPI and Digital Public Infrastructure. Now, Bharat must take its Digital Public Technologies to every corner of the world. Bharat must take the lead in next-generation communication technologies.
Our goal should be to ensure that Made-in-India 6G reaches every corner of the world. We must accelerate our efforts in this direction, and our commitment and endeavour must not diminish.
5. Ministry of Mines
We have launched the National Critical Minerals Mission with the objective of securing critical minerals for the country. We also announced the Critical Minerals Corridor in the Budget.
We are entering into agreements with several countries, and many nations around the world are now beginning to place their trust in Bharat when it comes to critical minerals.
6. Ministry of Power / Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
It is becoming increasingly difficult to run the new world without energy. Whether it is chips, AI or data centres, we will need enormous amounts of electricity.
Energy security is the need of our times, and that is why we have already taken one strong step after another in this direction.
One major means of ensuring energy security is nuclear energy. By passing the SHANTI Act in Parliament, we have paved the way towards a new goal. By 2047, we are working towards a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity.
Before 2014, piped gas was reaching barely 20-22 lakh households. Today, we are providing piped gas to nearly 1.75 crore households.
Twelve years ago, the country’s solar energy capacity was only 2 GW—just 2 GW. Today, we have achieved a capacity of 160 GW.
We launched the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and today I am pleased to say that, in such a short period, we have already crossed the milestone of 50 lakh households adopting solar energy. The programme is progressing rapidly, and as a result, the electricity bills of thousands of households have effectively become zero.
Thousands of households are also earning income by selling the surplus electricity they generate after meeting their own requirements. The government is providing 80,000 rupees in assistance to each family for this initiative, and with this support, we are moving towards completing this transformation.
The sixth stream of strength in our Sapt Dhara is the Green Economy and Blue Economy, which will also create green jobs.
We must achieve global-scale leadership in green hydrogen, renewable energy, energy storage, green mobility and green manufacturing. We have to establish ourselves as a global leader in all these areas.
7. Department of Atomic Energy
One major means of ensuring energy security is nuclear energy. By passing the SHANTI Act in Parliament, we have paved the way towards a new goal. By 2047, we are working towards a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity.
Over this decade itself, we are working towards the goal of commissioning five new nuclear reactors. This year, Bharat has crossed a significant milestone by mastering Fast Breeder Reactor technology. As a result, we have taken a major step forward towards becoming self-reliant in nuclear fuel.
8. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Before 2014, that is, 12 years ago, piped gas distribution was available in only 70 cities across the country. In these 12 years, we have expanded that network from 70 cities to 700 cities. This is what speed looks like. This is what expansion looks like. Every year, gas connections have been provided at an average rate six times faster.
Before 2014, piped gas reached barely 20-22 lakh households. Today, we are providing piped gas to 1.75 crore households. Twelve years ago, the country’s solar energy capacity was only 2 GW—just 2 GW. Today, we have achieved a capacity of 160 GW.
9. Ministry of Railways
The production of modern railway coaches has increased 21-fold. The electrification of our railway network began in 1925. Yet, over the following 90 years—from 1925 to 2015—only about 30% of the railway network had been electrified.
We completed the remaining work in just one decade, achieving near-total electrification. 30% in 90 years, 70% in 10 years and this is what progress looks like.
As a result, we have reduced our dependence on diesel, which we have to import from abroad. Our trains are increasingly running on electricity, bringing significant benefits to the environment.
The country has also introduced its first hydrogen-powered train. I am pleased that it is the longest and most powerful hydrogen-powered train, and that Bharat has also established its leadership in the field of hydrogen trains globally.
10. Ministry of Home Affairs
Naxalism and Maoism have destroyed the future of millions of young people. For four long decades, Naxalism held large parts of the country and a vast section of its population in its grip, keeping them under the threat of the gun. It tore the Constitution to shreds, and in the effort to protect ordinary citizens of the country, more than 3,500 of our police and security personnel made the supreme sacrifice.
Today, I am pleased that Naxalite-Maoist violence is perhaps no longer even capable of taking its final breath. In places where Naxalites once fired their guns, where the soil was once stained with blood, today, in those very Naxal-affected regions, the Tricolour of development, trust and endeavour is flying high because these areas are becoming Naxal-free.
The armed Naxalites have been defeated, but the Naxal mindset remains. These forces are looking for opportunities. They are searching for paths of violence and anarchy, and are employing various tactics to drag society onto the wrong path.
We must identify this Naxal mindset. We must isolate such elements and connect the country’s young generation with the mainstream path of building a developed nation.
Building a secure Bharat is the responsibility of all of us. Whether the challenge comes from within our borders or from across the frontier, Bharat is prepared for every eventuality. The nature of warfare is changing today. There is no longer any guarantee that a war will take place only on the battlefield or along the border.
Today, I am announcing from the Red Fort that in the days ahead, we will build a vibrant civil defence network. We will equip our citizens and civil defence personnel with modern systems and technologies and familiarise them with contemporary methods of preparedness.
11. Ministry of Defence
Our fifth stream of strength of the Sapt Dhara is defence power. The importance of defence strength is undeniable in every respect. Bharat has now realised, and the world has also recognised, that there is no alternative to becoming self-reliant in defence.
We must set ourselves the goal of developing next-generation defence technologies and moving towards becoming a global defence supplier. We must develop drones and counter-drone systems, and we must take the lead in hypersonic defence technologies.
Cybersecurity is also becoming a challenge for every household today. This too is an area of defence in which we can harness the capabilities of our youth and use their talent for the benefit of both the nation and the world.
We had announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra in recent years, and work on it is progressing at a very rapid pace. Today, our defence exports have increased nearly 50-fold, and our weapons and defence equipment are reaching around 100 countries across the world.
12. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
The fourth strength of the Sapt Dhara (seven streams) is Gati Shakti. Under Gati Shakti, we must focus on seamless and fast connectivity within the country.
We must connect our cities through high-speed rail. We need modern highways, inland waterways, airports and a multimodal logistics system.
13. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
We must not view our ports merely as places for loading and unloading goods, or simply as places where ships from around the world come and anchor. We must take our ports forward in the direction of port-led development and growth.
Bharat also has a tremendous opportunity in the blue economy. We have a very long coastline, and there are enormous opportunities in the blue economy.
There are fisheries, coastal tourism, ocean technology and many other areas in which we can move forward.
14. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
From Keralam to Gujarat and from Tamil Nadu to Bengal, along our coastline, our fisherfolk have seen a significant increase in the potential for exporting our shrimp as a result of this FTA. The potential for our seafood to reach markets across the world has also increased.
Bharat also has a tremendous opportunity in the blue economy. We have a very long coastline, and there are enormous opportunities in the blue economy. There are fisheries, coastal tourism, ocean technology and many other areas in which we can move forward.
15. Ministry of Tourism
Bharat possesses vast wildlife resources. We have more than 100 national parks. The potential is immense, but we have fallen short when it comes to attracting foreign tourists. We have an opportunity to use our soft power to attract tourists from across the world to Bharat. We must showcase our potential to the world.
Today, sports are also a major source of attraction towards Bharat. Why should the world’s sporting events not be held in Bharat? The concert economy is growing rapidly and is a major attraction for the country’s youth.
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