Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 79th Independence Day celebration at the Red Fort, in New Delhi, Friday, August 15, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
ATUL YADAV
In his longest ever Independence Day speech and 12th successive speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made eight big announcements to further boost the economy. Here are the announcements:
Semiconductors: From lost decades to mission mode
Recalling how attempts to set up semiconductor factories 50–60 years ago were “killed at birth” while other nations prospered, PM Modi announced that India is now on mission mode. By the end of this year, the nation will roll out its first made-in-India chip.
Nuclear energy capacity to grow tenfold by 2047
Work is underway on 10 new nuclear reactors as part of India’s mission to increase nuclear power generation capacity by over ten times in the next two decades.
GST reforms – A Diwali gift
Next-generation GST reforms will be unveiled on Diwali, reducing taxes on essential goods and providing relief to MSMEs, local vendors and consumers.
Reform task force for Bharat
PM Modi announced the creation of a dedicated Reform Task Force to drive next-generation reforms. Its mandate: accelerate economic growth, cut red tape and modernise governance.
₹1 lakh crore PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana
PM Modi launched a major employment scheme worth ₹1 lakh crore, under which newly employed youth will receive ₹15,000. The scheme aims to benefit three crore young Indians, strengthening the bridge from Swatantra Bharat to Samriddha Bharat.
High-powered demography mission
PM Modi highlighted the dangers of demographic imbalance due to infiltration and illegal migration in border areas. He announced the launch of a ‘High-Powered Demography Mission’ to address this national security challenge, ensuring the unity, integrity and rights of India’s citizens are safeguarded.
Energy independence – Samudra Manthan begins
PM Modi pointed out that a large share of India’s budget still goes toward importing petrol, diesel and gas. He announced the launch of the National Deepwater Exploration Mission to tap ocean resources, alongside major expansions in solar, hydrogen, hydro and nuclear power.
Made in India jet engines – A national challenge
PM Modi made a dramatic announcement that just like how we made vaccines during Covid, and UPI for digital payments, we should build our own jet engines too and asked our scientists and youth to take it up as a direct challenge.
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Published on August 15, 2025
