PM Modi addresses the nation from the Red Fort on Saturday.

Several international leaders extended Independence Day greetings to India. French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay conveyed their greetings. Putin described India-Russia ties as a “particularly privileged strategic partnership”, while Rubio said India-US ties were stronger than ever. Albanese highlighted India’s achievements as the world’s largest democracy and fastest-growing major economy.

Sporting a red turban with a yellow, green, and white Bandhani pattern, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day. The address began shortly after he unfurled the tricolour as part of the 80th Independence Day, marking another milestone in its journey since gaining Independence from British rule.

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PM Modi, in his address, outlined the saptadhara (seven streams) vision to achieve holistic national development and self-reliance — manufacturing excellence (cost, quality, and scale), farming/food processing, tech innovation, Gati Shakti connectivity, self-reliance in defence, push towards green and blue economies, and global soft power (yoga, healthcare, tourism, and creative arts). He said youth will play a crucial part in these reforms. He also announced a nationwide talent hunt to train children aged 5-15 for the 2036 Olympics.

PM Modi said that after beating Covid-19, there was conflict and war everywhere. “People had begun fearmongering. Many said there would be no vaccines, no one would be saved. They said no one would get fuel, diesel, fertiliser; people spread all kinds of rumours, and some people derived pleasure in this scaremongering. However, despite these challenges, we have followed the Nagrik Devo Bhava spirit, and our preparations have helped us,” he said.

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During his address, he exuded confidence that India will have achieved the target of being a ‘Viksit Bharat’ when the nation celebrates Independence Day in 2047. “We have to achieve this; all 140 crore of us have to achieve this. This becomes a sign of our courage in the eyes of the world; the world begins to see us differently. In the last 12 years, crores of people, whether it is Dalit, oppressed, poor, middle-class, or youth, each one has taken a vow, and with dedication, they have tried to take the country to new heights; I respect that. It’s because of this effort that over 25 crore have been pulled out of poverty,” he said. Focusing on the concept of aatmanirbharta, or self-reliance, PM Modi said: “We have had the conviction that we don’t want India to be reliant on others; we have to become self-reliant. We get everything in the country. Hence, we have to improve and protect ourselves and take a resolve for swadeshi, self-reliance, and ‘vocal for local’.”

Commenting on India’s domestic dependence on crude oil, PM Modi said: “As much as 99% of our coastal was a no-go area since we had decided not to explore our own areas. This was bankruptcy of ideas in the past. We have changed this and we have opened up this area. We are exploring in the sea to find new oil reserves. Last year, in this direction, we announced Samudra Manthan, 85,000 crore was allocated for this work… These have now turned to go-ahead areas.”

Earlier today, PM Modi paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day. He also extended greetings to the nation and paid tribute to the freedom fighters, remembering their sacrifice in the fight against colonial rule.

2026 Independence Day celebrations also mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation on the eve of Independence Day, speaking about students as the architects of India’s future. President Murmu’s address came ahead of the main Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort on Saturday morning.

Read the highlights of PM Modi’s Independence Day address from Red Fort here.

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