On Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag for the 11th time in a row from the ramparts of the Red Fort, claiming that India's 140 crore citizens can achieve the goal of a prosperous and developed country if they work together with determination. He stated that his government has fought to shatter the attitude of accepting the status quo by implementing significant changes aimed at improving the lives of the middle class and the impoverished.

Highlights from PM Modi's Speech

The commitment to reforms is the plan for progress, and it is motivated not by political considerations, but by a desire to serve the country first. In this context, Modi emphasized the strength of the banking industry, which, he claimed, has fueled success in other sectors.

In his statement on the country's 78th Independence Day, Modi stated that it is a day to honor the innumerable individuals who made sacrifices and fought for the country's freedom. "The country is indebted to them," he said. The increase in such calamities is cause for concern, he added.

Modi also extended his sympathies to families who lost loved ones in recent national catastrophes.

His first Independence Day address of his third term puts him ahead of Manmohan Singh, who unfurled the tricolour ten times from the ramparts of the Red Fort between 2004 and 2014, and behind Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, who did it 17 and 16 times, respectively.

Before reaching the Red Fort, he visited Mahatma Gandhi's monument.

Modi stated that 140 crore Indian citizens can attain the aim of a rich and thriving India if they work together with unwavering determination. There may be hurdles and resource constraints, but individuals who are unified in their aim can overcome them and reach their goal, he continued.

Speaking about his ambition for 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, he stated that individuals from all over the country and groups have contributed ideas for the agenda. He described several of these proposals, including justice system reform, a capacity-building effort, and the development of India's traditional medical institutions.

He highlighted his government's accomplishments in bringing power to underserved regions, piping water to crores of houses, extending the 'voice for local' initiative, and promoting renewable energy to claim that it had instilled new confidence and consciousness in people.

Modi stated that the nation is proud when the world wants to learn from its successes in the fintech industry.