New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, outlining a seven-point vision, or “Saptadhara,” for achieving the goal of a developed and self-reliant India by 2047.

The Prime Minister said India must accelerate reforms and focus on seven key areas — manufacturing, farming and food processing, technology and innovation, Gati Shakti connectivity, defence self-reliance, the green and blue economy, and India’s global soft power.

Modi unfurled the national flag at the Red Fort before delivering his around 75-minute address. Earlier, he paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and remembered the sacrifices of freedom fighters.

Seven streams for a developed India

Explaining the Saptadhara vision, Modi said manufacturing must become globally competitive, with emphasis on cost, quality and scale. He said India should develop the entire manufacturing value chain, from components and design to finished products.

The second focus area is farming and food processing, which, he said, has enormous potential to contribute to India’s development.

The third stream is technology and innovation. Modi said India must become a global hub for emerging technologies, including space, quantum technology, robotics and artificial intelligence. He also called for Made-in-India 6G technology to reach every part of the country.

The fourth stream, Gati Shakti, involves faster and seamless connectivity through high-speed railways, modern highways, inland waterways, multimodal logistics and port-led development.

The fifth is Raksha Shakti, or defence self-reliance. Modi stressed the need to develop advanced capabilities in drones, hypersonic technology and cyber security and make India a global hub for defence manufacturing.

The sixth stream is the green and blue economy, with a focus on green mobility, environmentally friendly manufacturing, climate solutions, coastal tourism and fisheries.

The seventh stream is India’s soft power, which includes yoga, healthcare, tourism, films, animation, gaming, digital content and the wider creative economy.

Free coaching for competitive exams

Modi announced that the government would establish a nationwide network to provide free coaching facilities for young people preparing for competitive examinations.

He said the initiative would help reduce the financial burden on families and provide greater opportunities to young aspirants.

One crore youth to receive AI training

The Prime Minister also announced that one crore young people will be trained in artificial intelligence skills over the next year.

Highlighting the rapid growth of technology, he said young Indians must acquire new skills so that they are not left behind in the emerging AI-driven economy.

Modi also highlighted India’s startup ecosystem, saying the country now has more than 2.5 lakh registered startups.

India eyes 2036 Olympics

Speaking about sports, Modi said India will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and has set its sights on hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.

He called for greater participation in Olympic disciplines in which India currently has little or no presence.

The Prime Minister announced a national talent hunt for children aged between five and 15 to identify and develop sporting talent ahead of the 2036 Olympics.

Modi appeals for implementation of women’s reservation

Modi appealed to political parties to support the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.

Referring to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, he urged all political parties to work together to increase women’s representation in politics.

Push for defence manufacturing

The Prime Minister called for India to become a global centre for defence manufacturing and stressed the importance of achieving self-reliance in advanced military technologies.

He said work on the indigenous Sudarshan Chakra air defence system was progressing rapidly. The system is intended to strengthen India’s air defence capabilities and protect critical military and civilian installations.

Modi warns against ‘dimagi naxals’

Modi claimed that India had successfully curbed armed Naxalism and paid tribute to security personnel who lost their lives fighting Naxal violence.

However, he warned that people with what he described as a “Naxal mentality” were still present in different parts of the country.

He called for such elements to be identified and isolated, saying the country’s youth must be united for the goal of a developed India.

Push for self-reliance and ‘Vocal for Local’

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of Swadeshi, self-reliance and “Vocal for Local”, saying India should reduce its dependence on other countries.

Speaking about India’s dependence on imported crude oil, he said the government had opened up large areas of the country’s offshore territory for exploration and was working to identify new oil reserves.

He also referred to the Samudra Manthan initiative and said Rs 85,000 crore had been allocated for the effort.

Goal of 50 Indian companies in Fortune 500

Modi said India should aim to have at least 50 companies among the Fortune 500 in the coming decade.

He also said at least one Indian bank should become one of the world’s five largest banks and at least one Indian pharmaceutical company should rank among the world’s top five pharmaceutical firms.

FTA talks with 40 countries

The Prime Minister said India was working on free trade agreements with around 40 countries and urged micro, small and medium enterprises to take advantage of expanding global market opportunities.

He called for Indian products to meet global standards and reach markets around the world.

Hydrogen train and railway electrification

Modi highlighted the progress made in railway electrification and said India had reached a new frontier with its hydrogen-powered train.

He said the country had significantly accelerated railway electrification over the past decade, reducing fuel imports and benefiting the environment.

More than 50 lakh households covered by solar energy

The Prime Minister said more than 50 lakh households in the country were now covered by solar energy.

He stressed the importance of clean energy and green manufacturing as part of India’s broader strategy for sustainable development.

Modi urges youth to help in Census

Modi also appealed to young people to assist their families during the ongoing Census exercise.

He urged youngsters to help ensure that information submitted during the digital self-enumeration process is accurate, including names and other details, saying reliable data would help the country’s future planning.

India to become ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047

Reiterating his vision for “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, Modi said achieving the target would require the participation of all 140 crore citizens.

He said millions of Indians, including Dalits, the poor, middle-class citizens and youth, had contributed to the country’s progress over the past 12 years. He also claimed that more than 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty.