Independence day 2025: PM Modi hails armed forces, unveils Viksit Bharat, pushes national security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort, marking the nation’s 79th year of freedom. The Prime Minister’s speech prominently featured Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where he praised the armed forces for “punishing enemies beyond their imagination” and reaffirmed the policy of giving full operational freedom to the military. Senior officers and personnel involved in the operation, including nine IAF pilots and four Army personnel awarded the Vir Chakra, were honoured for their bravery.

In a strong national security message, PM Modi warned against infiltrators, stating that no country could tolerate demographic manipulation and attacks on its citizens. “Infiltrators are targeting our sisters and daughters, capturing lands of tribals. India won’t tolerate this,” he said, promising a high-powered demography mission. He reiterated that there would be “no difference between terrorists and those supporting them” and reaffirmed India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, declaring, “Blood and water will not flow together.”

Turning to the economy, the Prime Minister announced the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, under which the government will provide ₹15,000 to individuals securing their first job in the private sector. He also unveiled plans for “next-generation GST reforms” to be introduced by Diwali, promising reduced taxes on daily-use items and significant benefits for MSMEs.

PM Modi’s address also included a push for energy independence, citing a 30-fold increase in solar capacity over 11 years and ten operational nuclear reactors, with an aim to expand nuclear capacity tenfold by 2047. He urged the youth to develop indigenous social media and digital platforms, reinforcing his self-reliance mantra — “daam kam, dum zyada” (less price, more impact).

Emphasising that self-reliance goes beyond currency and trade, PM Modi described dependence on other nations as “a recipe for disaster”. He urged citizens to work together towards the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision for 2047, ensuring that the dreams of freedom fighters are fulfilled in a strong, self-sufficient India.