New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his Independence Day address from the Red Fort to outline a broad roadmap for building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, calling for faster reforms, greater domestic manufacturing and reduced dependence on foreign supplies.
Addressing the nation, Modi said India had faced a series of global disruptions over the past decade, including the COVID-19 pandemic and wars in Ukraine and West Asia. Despite those challenges, he said, the country had continued to strengthen its capacity to withstand external shocks.
The Prime Minister said the next five to seven years would have to deliver progress on a scale that could not be achieved over several decades, arguing that both the government’s approach and its ambitions needed to change.
Seven pillars identified for a developed India
Modi outlined what he described as the new “Sapta Sindhu” of development, placing manufacturing, food processing, technology and innovation among the key drivers.
He stressed that Indian manufacturing must compete globally on cost, quality and scale, while maintaining quality as an important part of the country’s brand.
The Prime Minister also pointed to food processing as an area with significant export potential, particularly with India gaining access to international markets through recent free trade agreements.
Technology, innovation and digital capabilities, he said, would form another critical pillar of India’s growth story.
Focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat
A major theme of the address was economic self-reliance.
Modi said India needed to reduce its dependence on other countries and build domestic capabilities in sectors considered strategically important. He cited initiatives such as Make in India, Swadeshi and Local for Local as part of that broader effort.
He also highlighted developments in semiconductor manufacturing, saying three major plants had already started production for exports and that additional facilities were expected to come up over the next several years.
Urea and DAP prices highlighted
The Prime Minister also used fertilizer prices to illustrate the government’s support for farmers.
He said global urea prices had climbed sharply but farmers in India continued to receive a subsidised bag at around Rs 300, with the government bearing a significant portion of the cost.
Similarly, he said DAP was being supplied to farmers at Rs 1,350 despite much higher international prices.
Modi argued that such interventions had helped shield Indian farmers from some of the impact of global disruptions.
Energy security gets prominent place
Energy security featured prominently in the speech, with the Prime Minister outlining plans to expand both conventional exploration and nuclear power.
He said India was moving towards a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, with five new reactors planned to be commissioned during the current decade.
Modi also referred to progress in fast breeder nuclear technology, describing it as an important step towards strengthening India’s long-term nuclear fuel capabilities.
Push for deep-sea exploration
The Prime Minister said India could no longer afford to leave large parts of its offshore resources unexplored.
He referred to the opening up of areas previously designated as “no-go” zones for exploration and said the government was pursuing new opportunities in deep-sea exploration.
The Samudra Manthan initiative was cited as part of this effort, with the government recently allocating Rs 85,000 crore to accelerate related work, according to the Prime Minister.
Piped gas network expands
Modi also pointed to the expansion of India’s piped natural gas network as evidence of the country’s changing energy infrastructure.
He said piped gas distribution, which was available in around 70 cities before 2014, has now expanded to approximately 700 cities.
The Prime Minister described the expansion as an example of how infrastructure development has accelerated over the past decade.
MSMEs urged to seize global opportunities
With India entering into new trade agreements, Modi called on micro, small and medium enterprises to take advantage of expanded access to international markets.
He said India’s stable political system, democratic institutions and judicial framework provide a strong foundation for businesses seeking to compete globally.
The Prime Minister urged MSMEs not to allow the opportunities created by new trade agreements to pass them by.
Youth at centre of Viksit Bharat vision
Modi placed India’s young population at the heart of the 2047 development target, saying the youth would be among the biggest beneficiaries of a developed India.
He said their participation would be essential to turning the country’s long-term vision into reality, particularly in emerging areas such as technology, manufacturing and innovation.
India must move beyond a ‘chalta hai’ mindset
Reflecting on India’s economic journey since independence, Modi said the country had for decades been held back by an attitude of accepting things as they were.
He contrasted that mindset with what he described as the renewed momentum India has gained over the past 12 years.
The Prime Minister recalled India’s earlier description as part of the global “Fragile Five” and said the country’s current trajectory demonstrated a significant change in its economic and strategic position.
2047 remains the central target
Modi reiterated that the ultimate objective is to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, when the country marks 100 years of independence.
He said achieving that ambition would require the combined effort of India’s 1.4 billion citizens rather than government action alone.
The speech brought together the government’s priorities on manufacturing, agriculture, technology, energy security, nuclear power, semiconductor production and exploration, with the Prime Minister presenting self-reliance and accelerated reform as central to India’s next phase of development.
