Amit Shah: Modi's I-Day Speech a Milestone Towards Viksit Bharat

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday (August 15, 2026) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, delivered from the ramparts of the Red Fort, would prove to be a milestone in the country’s journey towards becoming a leading nation across all sectors. In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Mr. Shah, who is also a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said the speech was imbued with the resolve for 'Swadeshi' (self-reliance) and prosperity.

The Home Minister stated that Mr. Modi outlined a comprehensive roadmap to build a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) driven by the spirit of 'nation first', 'drug-free India', and 'safe India'. He further mentioned that the Prime Minister highlighted the unprecedented progress made over the last 12 years in sectors such as semiconductors, critical minerals, energy, and railway transport.

According to Mr. Shah, the Prime Minister presented the mantra of 'Saptadhara' — seven pillars of strength — to propel the country to new heights and achieve self-reliance across all sectors. This concept, as described by the Home Minister, is intended to serve as a broad framework for national development. Mr. Shah did not elaborate on the specific pillars, but the idea of seven pillars has been used in government discourse to denote key areas of strength and focus.

Addressing the youth, Mr. Shah noted that the Prime Minister announced several initiatives. These include providing AI skilling to over one crore young people in a single year, establishing a network for free online coaching, and launching a talent hunt campaign for the 2036 Olympics. Mr. Shah said these measures are aimed at channeling the potential of the youth, and added that the focus on the younger generation is in line with the government's emphasis on harnessing the demographic dividend.

The Prime Minister also set ambitious targets, including achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity and establishing eight new semiconductor units by 2047, Mr. Shah said in his posts. These targets, he added, are part of the larger vision of self-reliance in critical sectors that are vital for long-term economic growth and security.

In a separate post, Mr. Shah expressed his emotions over the singing of 'Vande Mataram' from the ramparts of the Red Fort. He said it was sung for the first time, 80 years after Independence, and described the moment as historic. "Witnessing this historic moment not only gave me goosebumps but filled my entire being with sheer ecstasy," he wrote. The national song, which has deep significance in India's freedom movement, was performed during the ceremony.

The Independence Day speech is a key annual event in India's political calendar. The Prime Minister addresses the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a tradition that dates back to 1947. This year's speech took place as the country celebrated its 79th Independence Day, with the programme broadcast live across various platforms. Historically, Prime Ministers have used this platform to unveil flagship initiatives, and this year's address appears to follow that tradition with announcements on AI training, nuclear energy, and semiconductor manufacturing.

The concept of 'Viksit Bharat' has been a central theme of the current government's policy agenda. It envisions India as a developed nation by 2047, the centenary of independence. Mr. Shah's comments are seen as an endorsement of this vision, and his detailed enumeration of the initiatives announced by the Prime Minister highlights the significance of the address. His reaction is likely to be echoed by other party leaders as the government seeks to consolidate the narrative ahead of subsequent electoral and policy cycles.

While Mr. Shah's posts provide a summary of the Prime Minister's key announcements, the full text of the speech is expected to be made available by the government. The reactions from other political leaders and parties are also anticipated, which will further shape the public discourse around the speech. The government is likely to release official transcripts and summaries in due course.

The singing of 'Vande Mataram' at the event has drawn particular attention due to Mr. Shah's claim that it was the first time it was sung from the ramparts in 80 years. This statement, however, has not been independently verified, and the historical details surrounding the tradition remain unclear. As with any political claim, it is subject to factual scrutiny.