Latest news with #12thIndependenceDay
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
From good governance to great aspirations: Modi's Independence Day leap
Eleven years into power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is no longer just the steward of a reformist government — he is positioning himself as the architect of a developed Bharat. His 12th Independence Day address from the Red Fort was not a routine recital of achievements; it was a roadmap for the next quarter-century, anchored in the belief that India can and must aim higher. Modi is tapping into the nation's collective yearning to be more than a 'fast-growing economy' — setting bold markers for a fully developed country by 2047, with a $10 trillion economy as the headline target. For voters accustomed to stability and growth, he offered a direct answer to the question: what next? This year's 103-minute address — the longest in India's history — turned the Red Fort into a launchpad for Bharat's next leap. The announcements cut across military strength, economic reform, technological ambition, and youth empowerment, signalling that the next stage will be about creating change, not just managing it. He began with a salute to Operation Sindoor, hailing the armed forces' decisive strikes as proof of India's military resolve and sending a blunt warning to adversaries. National security was placed front and centre again with the launch of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, an indigenous Iron Dome-style missile defence system. On the economic front, he called for Aatmanirbhar Bharat amid global tariff wars, particularly with U.S. tariffs touching 50%, urging support for domestic industries from semiconductors to electric vehicles. He promised a Diwali gift in the form of next-generation GST reforms to ease burdens for businesses, MSMEs, and consumers. Modi's technology push included a breakthrough pledge: India's first Made in India semiconductor chip will roll out by year-end — a goal that eluded the country for decades. He challenged scientists and youth to build indigenous jet engines, mirroring past successes in vaccines and digital payments. In energy, he announced a tenfold expansion in nuclear power by 2047 with ten reactors already in the pipeline, alongside aggressive growth in solar, hydrogen, and hydro power. The National Deepwater Exploration Mission will cut reliance on imported fuels by tapping ocean resources. Jobs and youth opportunity were central. The `1 lakh crore PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana will give three crore newly employed youth `15,000 per month in their first private-sector jobs. A High-Powered Demography Mission will address the risks of demographic imbalance caused by illegal migration, protecting unity and citizens' rights.
Malaysia Sun
11 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
"May India-Israel friendship continue to flourish": PM Modi thanks Israeli PM Netanyahu on Independence Day wishes
New Delhi [India], August 16 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed thanks to his Israeli counterpart after Benjamin Netanyahu wished him and the people of India on the 79th Independence Day. PM Modi said in a post on X, 'Thank you PM Netanyahu for your warm wishes. May India-Israel friendship continue to both countries further strengthen and deepen this relationship bringing peace, development as well as security to our people.' Earlier on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on extended warm greetings to India on the occasion of its 79th Independence Day. In a series of posts on X shared on the Israeli Prime Minister's account, Netanyahu said, 'Congratulations to my dear friend @PMOIndia @narendramodi and the people of India on your Independence Day' Highlighting that India and Israel are proud democracies bound by history, innovation and friendship, Netanyahu said that the best chapters of the partnership still lie ahead. 'Israel and India are two proud democracies, bound by history, innovation, and friendship. Our nations have achieved much together and the best chapters of our partnership still lie ahead.' In his 12th Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered bold announcements that indicate India is poised to make significant progress into the Modi outlined plans for various initiatives, including the production of India's first semiconductor chip, the development of jet engines, the creation of 1 lakh crore in youth employment opportunities, and a tenfold expansion of the nuclear program. He presented his vision for 'Naya Bharat' (New India) and set the goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. On India's 79th Independence Day, warm wishes and greetings poured in from across the world, reflecting the country's growing global stature and strong international friendships. (ANI)
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
PM Modi raises pitch for ‘Samriddh Bharat'
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave a clarion call for making a "Samriddh Bharat" by becoming self reliant in fields ranging from fighter jet engines to energy and Artificial Intelligence, as he announced a task force for next generation reforms, GST changes as big gift for Diwali, and a state-of-the art defence shield dubbed "sudarshan chakra." Modi's consecutive 12th Independence Day speech was focused on the theme of "aatmanirbharta" (self-reliance) at a time India and the world is facing growing US protectionism, as he highlighted the rising global selfish interest. "We should not waste our energy on shortening the line of any country. We have to make our line longer with full energy. The world will acknowledge our mettle if we can do it. (kisi doosre ki lakeer chhoti karne ke liye apni urja hamein nahin khapaani hai. Hamein poori urja ke saath hamari lakeer ko lamba karaa hai. Hum agar apni lakeer lambi karate hain to duniya bhi hamara loha manegi.)," Modi said in his 103-minute address from the ramparts of Red Fort on the country's 79th Independence Day. Citing his 25 years of experience as the head of a government, he said, "If we choose this path, then no selfish interest will ever be able to entrap us." Modi's longest Independence Day address for any prime minister was peppered with several announcements, including a national deep water exploration mission for self-reliance in energy and a high-powered demography mission to deal with the "serious crisis" of demographic changes effected by infiltrators. His sweeping call for "swadeshi" (Made in India), self-reliance and innovation in a gamut of sectors, including semiconductors, social media, fertiliser and pharma, came amid a strain in the country's ties with the US, with President Donald Trump doubling tariffs on Indian imports to a whopping 50 per cent after singling out India for purchase of Russian oil to pressure it on trade. Sporting a saffron turban, Modi, however, made no direct reference to the issue as he doubled down on his emphasis on self-reliance and "swadeshi". The task force on reforms will make time-bound recommendations for adapting India to become developed by 2047, he said. "It is the call of the hour that we need not fret in the times of crisis but should work to improve our abilities and accomplishments," he said. Indian manufacturers' mantra should be "daam kam, dum jyada" (less price, better quality), he added. India can do it, he said noting that toy producers have begun exporting after he had in a 'Mann ki Baat' episode called for boosting domestic production and the need for stopping their import. The prime minister likened his call for "Samriddh Bharat" (prosperous India) to the freedom fighters' goal of "Swatantra Bharat" (independent India).
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
The making of Samriddha Bharat
Given the restive external environment, it was no surprise that the nation's pursuit of aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) took much of PM Narendra Modi's time as he delivered his 12th Independence Day speech. In a 103-minute speech, the PM presented a vision statement of what his government intends to do going ahead, to realise a developed Bharat by 2047. The PM offered policy and politics while appealing to the different constituencies, including the core base of his BJP. PM Modi presented self-reliance as a layered idea that had implications for national security, political economy, and India's outreach to the world. Just in case anyone thought that the talk on self-reliance, with the appeal to consumers and shopkeepers to go 'swadeshi', was a throwback to the past, the PM emphasised that the idea was for the country to turn self-reliant in defence equipment, jet engines, space exploration, clean and renewable energy, semiconductors, critical minerals, vaccines, medicines and drugs, and turn India into a production hub that can conquer world markets with products manufactured with 'daam kam' and 'dum zyada' (lower-priced but quality goods). This is to be realised by building capacities in mission mode and with major private sector participation, he elaborated. The focus on self-reliance has become an imperative with the US working to dismantle the old global order underwritten by free trade and multilateral fora and replace it with bilateralism driven by national self-interest. (ANI Grab) Towards this end, the PM announced a reform task force to drive next-generation reforms, among them reducing compliance costs for startups, MSMEs, and entrepreneurs. As if to buttress intent, the PM recalled how close to 40,000 compliances and 1,500 laws have been done away with to improve the ease of doing business. But the teaser in the piece was that big ticket reforms are due in the GST regime by Diwali, which will lighten the tax load and reduce the costs of daily-use items. The ₹1-lakh-crore PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana was a clear outreach to the youth: Under the scheme, expected to benefit 35 million Indians, young people beginning their first jobs will receive a one-time payment of ₹15,000, given in two instalments. The focus on self-reliance has become an imperative with the US working to dismantle the old global order underwritten by free trade and multilateral fora and replace it with bilateralism driven by national self-interest. Considering the hostile nature of India's neighbourhood, the shifts in global power relations call for considerable national efforts to build self-sufficiency in energy and defence. True to his style, Modi proposed Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a new security platform that can neutralise enemy missiles and improve India's offensive capabilities. A politically significant aspect of PM Modi's speech was his appreciation of the RSS. Considering that his political grooming happened under the Sangh's guidance, a mention of the RSS in its centenary year in the PM's speech was not surprising. The ideological imprint was visible in his comment on a 'well-thought-out conspiracy' to change India's demography and the announcement of a 'demographic mission' to prevent infiltrators from allegedly usurping jobs and land and targeting 'our sisters and daughters'. Any conversation on this polarising subject will need to engage with the complex historical, geographical and economic legacies that continue to shape life in the subcontinent. Infiltration constitutes a security concern, surely, but a new language of articulation is called for to build a political consensus on the ways to defuse the threat. The hard line on borders and immigrants reflects a global trend, but the Indian narrative is laced with communal overtones, which can potentially disrupt the journey towards what the PM termed samriddha (prosperous) Bharat.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
PM unveils 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra'; pushes for Made-in-India jet engines
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of India's self-reliance in defence, and vowed to enhance the country's military capabilities by announcing the launch of 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra,' aimed at neutralising enemy infiltrations and enhancing the country's offensive capabilities. He also urged Indian innovators and youth to develop jet engines — a critical gap in the country's defence manufacturing capabilities that has held up indigenous combat aircraft programmes. In his 12th Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Operation Sindoor — India's military response to the Pakistan-backed April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack — demonstrated that strategic autonomy and indigenous capabilities, including Made-in-India weapons, are essential for decisively tackling threats, making self-reliance the foundation of national strength, dignity, and the journey towards a developed India by 2047. He also emphasised that national security cannot rely on foreign dependence. 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra' announced Noting that August 16 marked Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, PM Modi said that the Hindu deity and his divine weapon — the Sudarshan Chakra — brought to mind how modes of warfare are changing across the world. He emphasised that India is well-equipped to counter every new form of warfare, and that the country's technological prowess was demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, when the armed forces repelled countless attacks by Pakistan, which launched missiles and drones against India's military installations, airbases, sensitive locations, centres of faith, and civilians. 'Due to the efforts made over the past 10 years to secure the nation, the result of that strength was that every one of their attacks was shattered. They could not inflict even the slightest damage,' said PM Modi. Highlighting that India must further expand and continuously upgrade the mastery it has achieved to ensure the defence of the nation and the safety of its citizens, the Prime Minister said that, drawing inspiration from Lord Krishna's divine weapon, he was announcing the launch of the 'Sudarshan Chakra Mission.' He explained that the mission would deliver a powerful weapon system capable not only of neutralising enemy attacks, but also of striking back with multi-fold force.
