Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation during the 80th Independence Day celebrations, at Red Fort in New Delhi, on August 15, 2026. (@narendramodi/YT via PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday invoked ‘Shakti ki Saptdharas’ or ‘Seven Streams of Strength’ to drive India forward and take the nation to new heights. At the same time, he also urged political parties to help in implementing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Parliament and Assemblies.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80^th Independence Day, he said: “Our dream is that when India celebrates 100 years of independence, it touches new heights.” The government has long set 2047, as the target for achieving developed-economy status. Now in order to further accelerate reforms, he invoked the strength of seven streams, which includes manufacturing power, agriculture and food processing, technology and innovation, Gatishakti, defence power, green economy, and soft power.

Explaining each of them, he said that manufacturing power related to building complete domestic end-to-end value chains, from design to components, focusing on zero-defect quality, cost, and global scale. Under agriculture and food processing, effort should be made to create integrated farm-to-export supply chains for millets, spices, and fruits while transitioning to chemical-free farming, the PM added.

Technology and innovation refer to evolving from a tech market into a global innovation hub leading in AI, Quantum, Space, Robotics, DPI, and Made-in-India 6G. Gati Shakti implies establishing high-speed, seamless multi-modal logistics connecting cities, highways, railways, airports, and modern industrial seaports. Defence ‘Shakti’ will lead to achieving complete strategic self-reliance by pioneering and exporting next-gen defence technologies like drones, counter-drone systems, and hypersonics.

Through green and blue economy, effort would be to scale sustainable growth through Green Hydrogen, renewable energy, and energy storage alongside full utilisation of ocean, coastal, and marine potential. And finally, though India’s Soft Power, the aim is to globalise Indian culture, Yoga, Ayurveda, and tourism, while establishing global leadership in gaming, VFX, and animation, PM Modi added.

He stressed the need for greater self-reliance in the above areas and reiterated a series of ambitious targets. “The country will have up to eight more chip plants in the next seven to eight years,” Modi said. India currently has three operational chip plants.

He also said India aims to start five nuclear reactors, as the country steps up efforts to develop alternative energy sources and reduce its reliance on imports. Last year, Modi’s government allowed private firms to build and operate atomic power projects as it pursues an ambitious goal of expanding nuclear power capacity eleven-fold to 100 gigawatts by 2047. 

Further, he emphasised that India has a stable political mandate, a stable government, a vibrant democracy, a strong judicial system and “a constitution that guides us all.” Every Indian is embracing the spirit of Make in India and Vocal for Local. Sectors that were once seen as ‘No-Go Areas’ are now ‘Go-Ahead Areas.’  “We must believe in ourselves and take pride in building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.

PM Modi highlighted achievements in various sector. “In the last 12 years, defence production has increased nearly fourfold, while output from Khadi and village industries has grown almost fivefold. Electronics manufacturing has expanded nearly sevenfold. The production of modern railway coaches has risen 21-fold, and mobile phone production has surged 33-fold. Beyond that, we have made our mark in the realms of digital technology and innovation. The number of internet users has nearly quadrupled, patent grants have increased fourfold, and digital transactions have grown a hundredfold,” he said.

Published on August 15, 2026