Page 5 - Narendra Modi

India Inc backs PM Modi's I-Day address, vows to boost investment, jobs

India Inc on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address, saying it looks forward to working with the government to translate his announcements into actionable programmes to boost investment, jobs, innovation and manufacturing. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, said, "As we mark 80 years of Independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address puts people, sustainability and India's global strengths at the centre of our development journey. "His call for Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Vocal for Local reflects our growing confidence to build a self-reliant, future-ready nation, one that has moved from being among the 'Fragile Five' to the world's fastest-growing major economy in just over a decade". Industry shares the prime minister's resolve to build on this momentum and is ready to match it with sustained investment in areas of strategic importance, Banerjee stated. Agriculture and food processing stand out as a real opportunity: with

Nepal PM Balendra Shah greets PM Modi, India on 80th Independence Day

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Saturday extended greetings and best wishes to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and the people of India on the occasion of the country's 80th Independence Day. Shah's message comes amid Nepal's efforts to strengthen ties with India, with the Himalayan nation seeking greater economic cooperation and connectivity with its immediate neighbour. "On the occasion of India's 80th Independence Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to PM @narendramodi and the friendly people and Government of India," Shah's office said in a post on X. Shah's message also comes days after he held his first one-on-one meeting with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on August 10, after having largely avoided such engagements with foreign diplomats since taking office. "May the deep historical ties, close people-to-people relations and cooperation between Nepal and India continue to strengthen in the years ahead," Shah said on Saturday. Nepal .

PM Modi wants to set up a Civil Defence volunteer force: What does it mean?

The proposed network is not India's first civilian volunteer force, but Modi's announcement points to a larger, modernised role for citizens in national emergency preparedness

PM Modi sets sights on global leadership in advanced defence technology

The Prime Minister called for greater capabilities in hypersonic technology, drones and counter-drone systems, adding that India must emerge as a global supplier of advanced military equipment

PM Modi calls upon farmers to leverage FTAs to build global agro brands

The Prime Minister also called for chemical-free farming and said the government had absorbed higher global fertiliser costs to keep urea and DAP affordable for farmers

PM Modi seeks global push to India's films, gaming, VFX and digital content

The Prime Minister said India should turn its creative industries, handicrafts, yoga and Ayurveda into global capabilities, with WAVES showcasing its soft power

PM Modi unveils seven-pillar 'Sapta Dhara' roadmap for Viksit Bharat

The framework places manufacturing, food processing and technology at its core, alongside infrastructure, defence, the green and blue economy, and India's soft power

PM Modi's 75-minute I-Day speech shortest in 4 years, fourth shortest ever

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a 75-minute Independence Day speech on Saturday, the shortest in four years and his fourth shortest ever. On India's 79th Independence Day last year, Modi had delivered a 103-minute speech, breaking his own record of a 98-minute address delivered on the 78th Independence Day in 2024. His longest Independence Day speech before 2024 was for 96 minutes in 2016, while his shortest speech was in 2017, when he spoke for 56 minutes. Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day speech from the Red Fort on Saturday. Last year, he had broken Indira Gandhi's record by delivering 12 consecutive speeches from the Red Fort to stand next only to Jawaharlal Nehru, who delivered 17 Independence Day addresses in a row. Modi delivered his first Independence Day speech in 2014 and it lasted 65 minutes. His speech in 2015 lasted 88 minutes. In 2018, Modi's address was for 83 minutes. In 2019, he spoke for nearly 92 minutes. In 2020 Modi's Independence D

'Ties with US stronger than ever': Rubio greets India on Independence Day

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has greeted the people of India on its 80th Independence Day, asserting that the bilateral ties were stronger than ever due to the personal relationship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a statement issued here on Friday, Rubio said the deep ties of friendship and family between the people of the two countries form the foundation of a partnership that is innovative, resilient and forward looking. "On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of India on their Independence Day," Rubio said. "Thanks to the personal relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, the US-India relationship continues to grow and is stronger than ever," the US secretary of state said. Rubio said from defence and energy security to critical minerals, artificial intelligence, space cooperation, and commerce, US-India collaboration is making both nations, and the broader Indian Ocean .

PM Modi announces AI training for 10 million youth over the next year

The programme would mark a sharp expansion of existing AI skilling efforts, with Modi also highlighting opportunities in aviation, sports, green mobility and other emerging sectors

PM Modi unveils free coaching initiative in Independence Day address

The Prime Minister said the initiative would combine digital public infrastructure, teachers and talent to reduce coaching costs for poor and middle-class families

Reforms a conviction for govt, not a compulsion or buzzword: PM Modi

Addressing the nation from the Red Fort, the Prime Minister called reforms a conviction for his government, while outlining India's growth, energy security and self-reliance push

India may get 5-8 more semiconductor plants in 7-8 years, says PM Modi

In his Independence Day address, the Prime Minister also said the government would train one crore youth in artificial intelligence skills over the next one year

PM Modi flags energy security, critical minerals as key future priorities

The Prime Minister said rising demand from chips, AI and data centres makes energy security crucial, while India is also working to secure critical mineral supply chains

PM Modi greets nation on Independence Day, says India scaling new heights

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial in Raj Ghat here on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day. Ahead of his address to the nation from the Red Fort, the prime minister visited the memorial of the Father of the Nation and paid homage to him. Earlier, Modi greeted people on the occasion of Independence Day and said powered by 140 crore Indians, the country is scaling new heights of progress across different sectors. He also paid tributes to the countless freedom fighters whose courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment ensured the end of colonial rule.

Independence Day 2026: How to upload Har Ghar Tiranga selfie & certificate

As India gets ready to celebrate its 80th Independence Day on Aug 15, the Govt of India has declared that 'Har Ghar Tiranga' 2026 will be marked from August 9 to August 17, 2026

Independence Day 2026: When and where to watch Modi's speech on Aug 15?

India will celebrate its 80th Independence Day on 15 August with PM Modi's address from the ramparts of the Red Fort. PM is expected to outline the govt programmes and policies

From reforms to self-reliance: PM's speeches chart India's economic journey

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his 13th Independence Day address from the Red Fort, with reforms, jobs and self-reliance likely to feature prominently

PM Modi remembers victims of Partition on Horrors Remembrance Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the victims of the 1947 Partition on Friday, the eve of Independence Day. The Modi government has been observing August 14 as the 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' since 2021 in remembrance of those who lost their lives in riots after the country's division and the ensuing exodus. "Today we mark #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay. We recall the courage of all those who were impacted by Partition. It was a moment in history that tore apart several lives - families were uprooted, loved ones were lost and immense suffering was endured," Modi said on X. The prime minister said that despite the turmoil, people rebuilt their lives from nothing, turned adversity into achievement and contributed to the nation's progress. Their lives remind everyone of the strength of the human spirit, he said. "May this day deepen our resolve to preserve harmony and brotherhood in our nation and collectively work towards building a 'Viksit Bharat'," Modi said. "Let

Rahul calls RSS-BJP 'bunch of jokers', mocks PM's 'hugs' foreign policy

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday referred to the BJP-RSS as a "bunch of jokers" who have no understanding of India and scoffed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of foreign policy which he claimed was all about hugging leaders. Addressing the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention here, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also claimed that the RSS as an original force is dead and has now become an "instrument of large capital -- Mr Adani and Mr Ambani". Talking about the media toeing government's line on various issues, he said he understands their limitations but asserted that national spirit was about not allowing a "bunch of clowns to create an order over us". He also said it has somehow been ingrained in Modi's mind that foreign policy is about hugging leaders. Gandhi then hugged Rachnatmak Congress chief Sandeep Dikshit to show what foreign policy was about for the current government. "Imagine the ignorance....where did he get the idea that foreign policy w