PM Modi highlights 12 years of transformation, cites major gains in manufacturing, digital economy, energy and social security
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Saturday, highlighted what he described as a significant transformation of India over the past 12 years, citing rapid expansion in manufacturing, digital infrastructure, energy capacity, education, social security and opportunities for youth.
The Prime Minister said the progress made during the period had strengthened India’s capabilities and helped the country withstand major global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts.
He said the achievements demonstrated the country’s growing confidence and strengthened the foundation for building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Manufacturing and self-reliance gain momentum
Highlighting the expansion of India’s manufacturing capabilities, PM Modi said defence production had increased nearly fourfold over the past 12 years, while production by the Khadi and Village Industries sector had risen nearly fivefold.
Electronics manufacturing, he said, had increased nearly sevenfold, modern railway coach production had risen 21 times and mobile phone production had increased 35 times.
The Prime Minister linked the growth to India’s broader push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
Digital economy and innovation expand rapidly
PM Modi also highlighted the expansion of India’s digital ecosystem, saying the number of internet users had increased nearly fourfold during the period.
The number of patents granted has also increased fourfold, while digital transactions have grown around 100 times, he said.
The Prime Minister said the expansion of digital infrastructure and affordable data has created new opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation and employment, particularly for young Indians.
Faster delivery of basic amenities
PM Modi said the pace of delivery of essential services to ordinary citizens had increased significantly.
Tap-water connections, he said, were being provided at an average annual rate nearly 15 times faster than before. LPG connections were being provided at an annual pace nearly six times faster, while the construction of toilets for poor households had accelerated fourfold.
The pace of providing pucca houses to poor families, he said, had increased threefold.
PM Modi also pointed to governance reforms, including the abolition of hundreds of obsolete laws and the expansion of modern public transport and metro networks to more cities.
India builds semiconductor capabilities
The Prime Minister highlighted the development of India’s semiconductor ecosystem as a major step towards technological self-reliance.
He said that India had earlier lacked major semiconductor manufacturing facilities, whereas three semiconductor plants have now been initiated and production has begun to reach export markets.
PM Modi said additional semiconductor plants are expected to become operational in the coming years, strengthening India’s position in the global technology supply chain.
Critical minerals become strategic priority
Highlighting the growing importance of critical minerals for advanced technologies, PM Modi said the government had launched the National Critical Mineral Mission and announced a Critical Mineral Corridor in the Budget.
India has also entered into agreements with several countries to strengthen access to critical mineral resources, he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that securing critical minerals would be essential for India’s technological and industrial development.
Focus on energy security
PM Modi said energy security was becoming increasingly important as the global economy moves towards technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and data centres, all of which require large quantities of electricity.
He highlighted the SHANTI Act as an important reform in the nuclear energy sector and said India had crossed a significant milestone in fast breeder nuclear technology.
PM Modi said the technology would contribute to India’s objective of achieving greater self-reliance in nuclear fuel.
Offshore exploration gets a fresh push
The Prime Minister also highlighted a change in India’s approach towards offshore oil and gas exploration.
He said nearly 99 per cent of India’s offshore area had earlier been classified as a “No-Go Area”, restricting exploration activities.
The government has now opened these areas for exploration, he said, describing the shift as a move from a “No-Go Area” to a “Go-Ahead Area”.
PM Modi said the move could help India explore and potentially discover new oil and gas reserves.
Energy diversification accelerates
PM Modi cited several indicators of India’s expanding energy infrastructure.
City gas distribution, he said, has expanded from fewer than 70 cities in 2014 to around 700 cities today.
Piped cooking gas connections have also increased from around 20-22 lakh households to nearly 1.75 crore households.
Solar energy capacity has grown from around 2 GW in 2014 to approximately 160 GW, according to the Prime Minister.
He also highlighted the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, saying the scheme had crossed the milestone of installing solar systems in 50 lakh households.
Families are benefiting from lower or zero electricity bills and can also sell surplus electricity to generate additional income, he said. Government assistance of up to around ₹80,000 per household is available under the scheme.
Railways move towards electrification and hydrogen technology
PM Modi highlighted the rapid electrification of Indian Railways, noting that after nearly 90 years, only around 30 per cent of the railway network had been electrified by 2014.
The country has since moved towards near-complete electrification, he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s entry into hydrogen-powered rail transport, saying the country had begun work on its first Made-in-India hydrogen train, which he described as the world’s longest and most powerful hydrogen-powered train.
India demonstrates resilience amid global crises
The Prime Minister said the capabilities developed over the past decade were tested by major global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and conflicts in West Asia.
He said India’s preparations in areas such as energy, fertilisers and essential supplies had helped the country withstand these disruptions.
Fertilisers kept affordable for farmers
PM Modi highlighted government measures to protect Indian farmers from volatile global fertiliser prices.
He said the international price of a bag of urea had reached around ₹3,000, while Indian farmers were receiving it for less than ₹300.
Similarly, although DAP was priced at more than ₹5,000 internationally, Indian farmers were being provided the fertiliser for ₹1,350, he said.
The Prime Minister said these measures were aimed at insulating farmers from global price pressures.
FTAs open new export opportunities
PM Modi said India had entered into free trade agreements with around 40 countries since 2014, creating new opportunities for Indian producers and exporters.
He highlighted the potential for agriculture, fisheries, textiles, MSMEs and other sectors to expand their presence in international markets.
The Prime Minister urged Indian businesses to use the opportunities created by trade agreements and ensure that Indian products meet global standards of quality, cost and competitiveness.
Youth placed at centre of development
The Prime Minister said young Indians would play a central role in achieving the Viksit Bharat vision.
He highlighted initiatives including Startup India, the ₹1 lakh crore research fund, Digital India, Skill India, the opening of the space sector to private participation, the National Drone Policy and Khelo India as initiatives creating new opportunities for young people.
PM Modi said affordable digital connectivity had further strengthened the ability of young Indians to participate in the digital economy and innovation ecosystem.
Education infrastructure expands
PM Modi highlighted the expansion of higher education and medical education.
He said India had fewer than 350 universities during 2004-2014, while nearly 650 new universities had been added in the subsequent decade.
The number of medical colleges, he said, had also increased from fewer than 400 before 2014 to around 850 today.
He highlighted the National Education Policy 2020, introduced after a gap of 35 years, as another major reform in the education sector.
More than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have also been established to encourage children to develop an early interest in technology, innovation and problem-solving.
Startups, space and AI create new opportunities
PM Modi highlighted the expansion of India’s startup ecosystem, saying the country now has around 2.5 lakh registered startups.
He also pointed to the emergence of private space companies and their success in launching indigenous rockets and satellites.
The Prime Minister said artificial intelligence was creating a new generation of opportunities and recalled India’s hosting of the AI Impact Summit.
Bioeconomy expands dramatically
The Prime Minister highlighted the rapid growth of India’s bioeconomy, saying its value had increased from around ₹60,000 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹20 lakh crore today.
He said the expansion of the sector was creating new opportunities for employment, research, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Electric vehicle adoption rises
PM Modi also cited the rapid growth of electric mobility.
He said annual electric vehicle sales had increased from around 1.5 lakh towards the end of the previous decade to around 25 lakh in 2025-26.
He linked the growth to India’s wider transition towards clean energy and green mobility.
Aviation and aircraft manufacturing
The Prime Minister said the aviation sector was generating new employment opportunities through the expansion of airports and routes.
He also highlighted the growth of the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul sector.
PM Modi pointed to India’s efforts towards indigenous aircraft manufacturing and said the Made-in-India C-295 defence transport aircraft had successfully completed its flight.
SVAMITVA boosts rural economic potential
The Prime Minister highlighted the impact of the SVAMITVA scheme, saying around 3.25 crore families had benefited through property cards.
PM Modi said the initiative had unlocked economic potential worth around ₹140 lakh crore in rural areas.
Property records, he said, were enabling villagers to use their assets to access bank loans and create opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Defence exports surge
The Prime Minister also highlighted the growth of India’s defence exports.
He said defence exports had increased more than 50 times, with Indian defence equipment now reaching around 100 countries.
PM Modi said the expansion reflected India’s growing manufacturing capabilities and increasing role in the global defence sector.
Women-led development gains momentum
Highlighting the growing economic role of women, the Prime Minister said the government had achieved its target of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis.
Women from diverse social and economic backgrounds, including rural, Dalit, backward and tribal communities, have benefited from the initiative, he said.
PM Modi described women-led development as an important component of India’s broader economic transformation.
Social security coverage expands
The Prime Minister said social security coverage had expanded substantially over the past decade.
PM Modi said around 25 crore people were covered by social security mechanisms before 2014, while the number has now increased to around 100 crore Indians covered under one or more social security schemes.
He said the expansion represented a major step towards ensuring that the benefits of development reached wider sections of society.
Ayushman Bharat provides financial relief
PM Modi also highlighted the impact of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance programme.
He said beneficiary families had avoided an estimated ₹2 lakh crore in medical expenditure through the scheme.
The Prime Minister said such initiatives had provided significant financial protection to poor and middle-class families and strengthened the social security architecture.
Foundation for Viksit Bharat
The Prime Minister said the progress achieved across manufacturing, digital technology, energy, infrastructure, education, healthcare, social security and youth empowerment had strengthened India’s foundation for the next phase of development.
He emphasised that the transformation of the past 12 years must now be converted into greater momentum and higher ambitions as India moves towards its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
The achievements, he said, demonstrate the growing capabilities of the country and reinforce the need for continued reforms, self-reliance and collective effort to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat.
