Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that one crore youth will be trained through artificial intelligence skilling courses and said free online coaching will be provided to young people preparing for various competitive examinations, as he outlined a series of initiatives in his Independence Day address.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, Modi stressed the importance of technology, innovation and youth in achieving his vision of a Viksit Bharat, or developed India, by 2047.
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The Prime Minister said the government would also undertake major civil defence reforms, including modernised training and enhanced capabilities to deal with evolving security challenges. A nationwide sports talent hunt will also be launched to identify and nurture children aged 5 to 15 years in villages and cities.
"I announce today from the Red Fort that we will establish a vibrant Civil Defence network in the coming days. We will familiarize them with modern systems. What measures can be put in place to protect citizens from modern-day crises? We are going to create a massive, modern Civil Defence volunteer force capable of overcoming contemporary challenges. Today, the contribution of our sisters and daughters to nation-building serves as a great source of inspiration for us all. Whether it is fighter jets or civil aviation, our daughters are at the forefront. Be it the sports arena or STEM education, our daughters are leading the way. Even in the armed forces, daughters graduating from the NDA are demonstrating the capability to lead the nation's military with great confidence and authority," Modi said.
On technology, Modi referred to the India AI Impact Summit held in February and said India must build on its progress in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
"The third strength of the Saptadhara is technology and innovation. This is the era of robotics, AI, quantum technology, space and data centres. Emerging technologies are presenting new challenges, and we must become a global hub of innovation," Modi said.
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"We have already demonstrated our strength through UPI and Digital Public Infrastructure. Now, we must take the next leap in next-generation communication technology," he added.
The Prime Minister said seven to eight new semiconductor production plants are expected to become operational over the next one to two years, underlining the government's push to strengthen India's manufacturing and technology capabilities.
He also said India is targeting 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, with five new reactors expected to become operational over the next six to seven years.
Modi outlined seven key areas, or "Saptadhara", that he said would be crucial to building a developed India. These include manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, and technology, innovation and digital technologies.
"Today I want to remind you of 'Sapta Sindhu'. Now, to build a Viksit Bharat, we need a new current. The first 'shakti' of the Sapta Dhara is the manufacturing sector. For this, we need to focus on three things: cost, quality and scale. There should be no compromise on quality. This will be our brand value. The second 'shakti' is food processing. With the new FTAs, we have access to greater global markets now. The third 'shakti' is technology, innovation and digital technologies," the Prime Minister said.
On agriculture, Modi said India's expanding network of free trade agreements was opening up global markets for farmers and urged the country to move from farm production to exports.
"The second strength of Saptadhara is agriculture and food processing. We must move forward in this direction. The world's markets are now open for our farmers. Due to FTAs, we are gaining access to a very large market; we must reach it. We must go from the farm to the export market. Our traditional cuisine, millets, spices, and fruits and flowers should become global brands," he said.
Modi also linked the Viksit Bharat goal directly to India's youth, describing them as both the biggest beneficiaries and the key force behind the country's development.
"When I speak of a developed India, when I speak of propelling the nation forward at a rapid pace, the greatest beneficiary and the greatest enabler of this vision is the youth of my country, the youthful energy of my nation. Not only that, but the greatest beneficiary of a developed India is also the youth of my country. Therefore, we must advance the goal of a developed India by linking it with our youth," Modi said.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that India would achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 and urged citizens to work with determination towards that objective.
"The whole country is moving forward with a new resolve. India has also dreamt big--and that is the dream of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Viksit Bharat will be realised in 2047. When we (the country) pledge to become Viksit, the world also watches us. When the world's most populous country takes the resolution to become a developed nation, it becomes an introduction of our courage, and the world is compelled to look at us with a different perspective," Modi said.
The Prime Minister called on citizens, particularly India's youth, to dream big and turn those aspirations into reality as the country works towards its 2047 development goal.
