Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, urging India’s youth to play a big role in the journey to become a Viksit Bharat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat will be the youth of the country," the Prime Minister said, adding that it was important to make the youth our highest priority.
“I have faith in the youth of my country, the mothers and sisters of my country, the farmers of my country, and the workers of my country that we can make this dream a reality," PM Modi said.
The I-day speech, which came barely a month after the youth protest against NEET question paper leak, also saw the Prime Minister announce online coaching for various exams to help students and their families save thousands. “For the youth, we have decided to launch free online coaching for students for various exams,” PM Modi said.
Viksit Bharat
Stressing the dream of a 'Viksit Bharat', Modi hailed people for making efforts to lace India on the path of development. "Small dreams are not sufficient anymore; we should dream big. India has a big dream to become 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. When the world's most populous nation resolves to become developed, the world will look at us differently," he said, adding how India was scaling new heights of progress across different sectors.
"We cannot remain dependent on other nations; we must become self-reliant. Every Indian is now rooting for Vocal for Local, Swadesi products," he said, adding that India has set up semiconductor plants in its bid to become 'aatmanirbhar' and production has started already.
Defence manufacturing
Modi also pitched for making India a global hub for defence manufacturing, placing special emphasis on self-reliance in advanced capabilities such as hypersonic technology and drone systems. He stressed how expanding domestic production is critical to boosting India's strategic strength. "We have to become a global supplier by leveraging next-generation defence technology," he said.
The prime minister underlined the importance of India achieving expertise in the production of drones, counter-drone systems, and hypersonic technologies.
Semiconductor plants
The Prime Minister also stressed India’s semiconductor plans and said that the country has already begun production at three semiconductor plants, and five to eight more plants are expected to come up in the coming years.
Modi noted that for years, the country discussed semiconductors, but lacked large-scale semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
India has taken decisive steps towards self-reliance in semiconductors,” he said.
Railway electrification
Modi on Saturday highlighted the pace of railway electrification under his government, saying 70 per cent of the network was electrified in 10 years compared with 30 per cent in the previous 90 years.
Railway electrification had begun in 1925, but only 30 per cent of the network was electrified in the next 90 years. "We completed 100 per cent electrification in just one decade. Thirty per cent in 90 years and 70 per cent in 10 years -- this is the pace of work," he said.
He said electrification has helped save imported diesel and benefited the environment as trains are increasingly powered by electricity.
Modi also highlighted India's entry into the green hydrogen train sector, saying the country had started a train powered by green hydrogen. "What is special is that it is the longest and most powerful train, and India has also made its mark in the field of hydrogen trains in the world," he said.
