'Mere pyare deshwasiyon' was the most preferred address used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on Saturday. 

Published on: Aug 15, 2026, 17:10:57 IST

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday delivered his 13th Independence Day speech on Saturday from the historic Red Fort in Delhi. During his address, the PM announced various initiatives including free online coaching and a sports talent hub. But another point that became a focus in his speech was that he referred to the youth of the country roughly 50 times.

With the youth of India in focus, in his 75-minute-long Independence Day address, PM Modi referred to the youngsters several times. Meanwhile, 'mere pyare deshwasiyon' was the most preferred address used by the Prime Minister in his speech on Saturday, with nearly 40 mentions, according to news agency PTI.

Outreach to India's youth

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During his speech, PM Modi referred to India's youth using terms like:

• "Yuva shakti" (youth power)
• "Saathiyon" (friends)
• "Naujawan" (youth)
• "Yuva" (youth)
• "Mere pyare yuva" (my beloved youth)

From 'sathiyon' to 'deshwasiyon'

Over the years, during the PM's Independence Day speech, various terms have been notable:

Deshwasiyon (fellow citizens): It was mentioned 50 times in 2025, about 30 in 2024, nearly 15 in 2023, and over 40 in 2022.

Sathiyon (friends): It was used 10 times this year, around 35 times in 2025, nearly 30 times in 2024, around five times in 2023, and nearly eight times in 2022.

Parivaarjan (family members): It was PM Modi's most preferred address in 2023, with about 50 mentions.

Others: The Prime Minister also mentioned 'desh sevak' (those who serve the nation) and 'bhai beheno' (brother and sister) in his speech.

Key announcements for education, AI, and sports

Prime Minister Modi made various announcements:

Free online coaching: PM Modi announced free online coaching for aspirants preparing for competitive exams.

"Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams," PM Modi said.

AI skilling programme: He announced that one crore youth will be trained in AI skills in the next year.

"Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams," the PM stated.

Sports: Speaking about sports, PM Modi noted, "We have decided that in 2036, we should have participation in at least three-fourths of events."

"We are launching a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify prospects in every corner of the country. They will get special training to become world-class athletes," he added.

Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan: He called for a collective effort to tackle drug addiction and work toward a drug-free India.

He also urged families to join the 100-day nationwide Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan.

"Drug addiction is becoming a very big challenge for the country and its youth. Making India drug-free should be a collective responsibility of all of us," the Prime Minister said.

Civil defence: The PM announced that the government will develop a comprehensive civil defence programme which would be capable of addressing modern challenges.

"The civil defence systems that have been developed in our country have already been put into action. Therefore, today, from the Red Fort, I am announcing that in the coming days, we will modernise the civil defence system and introduce a modern framework," he said.

Energy sector: The Prime Minister also emphasised that India has taken a step towards becoming self-reliant in the nuclear power sector.

"Energy security is today's need, and that's why we have already taken steps in this direction. We have passed the SHANTI Act in Parliament and set a target of achieving 100 GW nuclear power by 2047," he said.

(with inputs from PTI)

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