Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday set an ambitious target for India to become a developed nation by 2047, saying the country’s progress over the past 12 years has laid the foundation for a stronger and more self-reliant future.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi highlighted India’s economic growth, poverty reduction, technological advancement and expanding global footprint. He said India, once counted among the “Fragile Five” economies, has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
Modi said 25 crore people have come out of poverty and stressed that India must now set bigger goals to achieve the vision of a developed nation by 2047.
Highlighting the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, the Prime Minister said India was able to withstand global disruptions because of advance planning, effective policies and proactive measures.
On energy security, Modi said the government is targeting 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and plans to commission five new nuclear reactors during the current decade. He also said offshore areas previously classified as “no-go” zones have been opened up for exploration as India seeks to discover new oil and gas reserves.
Modi said India has entered into free trade agreements with nearly 40 countries since 2014, creating new opportunities for businesses and exporters. He urged micro, small and medium enterprises to take advantage of these agreements and expand the reach of Indian products globally.
The Prime Minister also announced a major push for artificial intelligence skills, saying one crore young people will be trained in AI over the next year. He said India must focus on cost, quality and skills to strengthen its position in the global technology sector.
In education, Modi announced free online coaching for poor and middle-class students preparing for public examinations. He said the initiative would make quality coaching accessible to students and reduce the financial burden on families.
Calling for greater participation of women in public life, Modi urged all political parties to support the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
On sports, he announced a nationwide talent hunt to identify promising children between the ages of five and 15 and provide them with specialised training. He also said India will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Modi said India’s fight against Naxalism had entered its final phase, asserting that Naxal-Maoist violence had lost much of its strength and that development was reaching previously affected regions.
He also highlighted India’s growing semiconductor industry, saying three semiconductor manufacturing plants have already begun production and that another five to eight plants are expected to become operational over the next seven to eight years.
On critical minerals, Modi said the government has launched the National Critical Minerals Mission and announced a Critical Mineral Corridor to strengthen supplies essential for modern technology.
The Prime Minister further highlighted the rapid expansion of railway electrification, saying the entire rail network has now been electrified. He said the shift to electric traction would reduce dependence on imported diesel and generate significant savings.
Looking ahead, Modi set out several global ambitions for India, including having 50 Indian companies among the Fortune 500, at least one Indian bank among the world’s five largest banks, and an Indian pharmaceutical company among the world’s top five.
Invoking the concept of “Sapt Dhara”, or seven streams of strength, Modi called on the country to harness its full potential and said India should achieve in the next five to seven years what could not be accomplished over several previous decades.
The Prime Minister also expressed solidarity with families affected by recent floods and landslides across parts of the country, assuring them that the nation stood firmly with them.
