What were the key announcements in PM Modi’s Independence Day 2025 speech?

In his 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined new economic and security initiatives, including a GST overhaul, a ₹1-lakh-crore scheme for first-time job seekers, indigenous semiconductor production, and Mission Sudarshan Chakra, aimed at safeguarding strategic and public sites.

Also Read: Independence Day LIVE updates

Here are the top announcements from PM Modi’s 79th Independence Day speech: 

1. GST reforms to be implemented by October 2025: The government will revise the Goods and Services Tax structure, reducing rates on essential goods and streamlining slabs to benefit households and small businesses.
2. ₹1-lakh-crore youth employment scheme launched: The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana will provide a one-time incentive of ₹15,000 to first-time private-sector job seekers, targeting approximately 3.5 crore beneficiaries.
3. Indigenous semiconductor chips by year-end: Domestically manufactured chips are expected to enter the market before the end of 2025, supporting India’s electronics manufacturing and reducing its dependence on imports.
4. Mission Sudarshan Chakra announced for security: A decade-long programme using indigenous technology to protect strategic, civilian, and religious sites nationwide, with a targeted completion year of 2035.
5. Review of the Indus Water Treaty: The government will reassess the treaty to ensure India’s water rights are protected, citing concerns over its impact on agriculture.
6. Early achievement of the clean energy target: India has met its goal of generating 50% of electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources ahead of the 2030 deadline.
7. Recognition of the armed forces’ recent operations: PM Modi acknowledged the success of Operation Sindoor in Jammu and Kashmir, praising the armed forces for their role in national security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 15, 2025) delivered a 103-minute Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the longest by any prime minister in India’s history. Mr. Modi broke his 98-minute record from the 78th Independence Day last year.

His longest Independence Day speech before 2024 was 96 minutes in 2016, while his shortest speech was in 2017 when he spoke for 56 minutes. On India’s 79th Independence Day, Mr. Modi also broke Indira Gandhi’s record by delivering 12 consecutive speeches from Red Fort to stand next only to Jawaharlal Nehru, who delivered 17 Independence Day addresses in a row.