Independence Day 2025: From slashing GST to 'Sudarshan Chakra' defence system; here are highlights from PM Modi's speech

Independence Day 2025: The deadly Pahalgam attack, it's fallout in the form of Operation Sindoor and the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by India and the country's clear stance against terrorism and its supporters marked PM Narendra Modi's national address on Friday on the ocassion of Independence Day.

At 122 minutes, the 2025 Independence Day speech marked the longest one the prime minister has delivered during his three terms.

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He also announced a slew of other initiatives such as the Vikshit Bharat Rozgaar Yojana, substantial reductions in GST due for this Diwali, and the 'Sudarshan Chakra' defence system.

While condemning all terrorist attacks and it's supporters, the prime minister refused to be pressured down by nuclear blackmail in his 12th consecutive I-Day speech- marking New Delhi's continued conviction against neighbouring Pakistan's terror-relations.

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Here are the highlights from his Indepndence Day Speech:

• Today, 140 crore Indians are draped in the colours of the tricolour. The praise of our motherland, dearer to us than life itself, is echoing everywhere.
• Ambedkar, Nehru, Patel and women power contributed immensely to the making of the Constitution
• Today, we are also celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
• This great festival of freedom is a festival of 140 crore resolutions...This great festival of freedom is a festival of 140 crore resolutions. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all countrymen on the occasion of the festival of independence.
• In recent days, we have faced multiple natural disasters. Our condolences are with the affected people.
• I feel proud to have the opportunity to salute the brave soldiers of Operation Sindoor from the Red Fort
• After April 22, we gave our armed forces complete freedom, to decide the strategy, to set the target — and our forces achieved what had not happened in decades
• The devastation in Pakistan is so severe that new revelations are emerging every day. Our country has been tolerating terrorism for decades. But now, we have established a new normal. We will now not separate terrorism from those backing it
• We won't tolerate nuclear blackmail.
• Blood and water will not run together anymore. Indians know that the Indus agreement is one sided. My country's land is thirsty without water. The farmers of this country have suffered because of this treaty. The water that rightfully belongs to India is only for India
• Every time, we have to be aware to be Atmanirbha. Atmanirbharta is not restricted to Rupees, Pound, Dollar. It is related to our capabilities," he said, while addressing the nation
• By the end of this year, there will be a Made-in-India chips in the market.
• For us, self-reliance in critical minerals is very important. That is why the National Critical Minerals Mission was launched, and exploration is underway at more than 1,200 locations.
• We know that we remain dependent on many countries to meet our energy needs. But to build a truly self-reliant India, we must achieve energy independence. In the last 11 years, our solar energy capacity has increased by 30 times. We are constructing new dams, and India is now focusing actively on nuclear energy. We have taken significant steps in this direction, with 10 new nuclear reactors currently operational. By the time India celebrates 100 years of independence, we aim to increase our nuclear energy capacity tenfold.
• We made our own vaccines, have saved crores of lives.
• I am ready to work alongside you, should you take the initiative to make India 'Viksit Bharat'; bring up your ideas, create for India, set up factories if you want
• India to create taskforce for next-gen reforms
• There are such laws in our country that make even small matters unnecessarily complicated; these need to be removed
• Big gift on diwali: Next gen GST reforms to be introduced with substantial reductions.
• My country’s youth, today is 15th August, and on this very day, we are launching a scheme worth Rs 1 lakh crore for the youth of our country. From today, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana is being implemented... Under this scheme, young men and women getting their first job in the private sector will receive Rs 15,000 from the government. Companies that create more employment opportunities will also be given incentive amounts. The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana will create nearly 3.5 crore new employment opportunities for the youth.
  We aim to bring the development in eastern India at par with the development in rest of India... We approved thousands of crores for infra projects there.
• Past decade was of reform, perform and transform; now we have to focus on greater goals.
• Today India is number one in the world in production of milk, pulses, jute. India is also the second-biggest fish producer. India is also the second-biggest producer of rice, wheat, fruits, vegetables. Export of agro-products worth 4 lakh crore has happened. Many schemes are there to support them. Farmers are becoming courageous with insurance.
• Farmers, livestock keepers, and fishermen are our top priorities. Any policy that threatens their interests, Modi is standing like a wall against it. India will never compromise when it comes to protecting the interests of our farmers.
• We are moving towards prosperity, but its path crosses with security, in the last 11 years, we have focussed on it. A big Tribal population was bleeding because of Naxalism, the Tribal families suffered. There was a time when Naxalism was there in more than 125 districts... Today, it is there in only 20 districts... Today Bastar is free of Naxalism, people are participating in sports.
• I would like to alert the nation about a concern, a challenge. Under a well-thought-out conspiracy, country's demography is being changed, seeds of a new crisis are being sown. Infiltrators are snatching away the livelihood of the youth of my country. Infiltrators are targeting the sisters and daughters of my country. This will not be tolerated. These infiltrators mislead innocent tribals and capture their land. The country will not tolerate this. When demographic change takes place in border areas, it causes a threat to national security...No country can hand it over to infiltrators...So, I would like to say that we have decided to start a 'High-Power Demography Mission'
• Will use latest technological tools to secure strategic, civilian and religious places across country. India to launch Mission Sudarshan Chakra to create powerful weapon system to thwart any attempt by enemies to attack us.

India is celebrating its 79th Independence Day on Friday, under cloudy, damp skies with with light rain in the air. At the heart of the celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his 12th consecutive Independence Day address — and his second since securing a third term — from the ramparts of Delhi’s historic Red Fort.

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"Wishing everyone a very happy Independence Day. May this day inspire us to keep working even harder to realise the dreams of our freedom fighters and build a Viksit Bharat. Jai Hind," the longest PM India has seen yet wrote on his X handle early in the day.