Sindoor to Sudarshan Chakra, PM draws Atmanirbhar vision

Atmanirbharta (self reliance) is the foundation of Viksit Bharat (developed India) and over-dependence on foreign powers can cloud freedom itself, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, underlining that enhancing national security was a core mission to build a prosperous country by the centenary of independence in 2047.

- Smriti Kak Ramachandran and Rahul Singh

In his customary address to the nation on Independence Day, Modi outlined an expansive vision for the next few decades with self-reliance and defence as its pillars, made a string of big-bang reform commitments especially in easing compliance and simplifying Goods and Services Tax, announced a high-powered mission to deal with infiltration, flagged global economic selfishness, and underlined his government's drive to achieve self-reliance in energy, defence equipment, critical minerals and semiconductors.

In his 103-minute-long address — his longest ever from the ramparts of the Red Fort - Modi also hailed the armed forces and the prowess of Made-in-India weapons during Operation Sindoor, urged Indians to build jet engines and announced the formation of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, an anti-ballistic missile defence aimed at neutralising enemy defence infiltrations and enhancing India's offensive capabilities.

Nuclear reactors on the anvil

Among his major announcements were that India will roll out its first Made-in-India chip by the end of the year; 10 new nuclear reactors as part of the mission to increase nuclear power generation capacity by over 10 times in the next two decades; next-generation GST reforms to be unveiled on Diwali, reducing taxes on essential goods and providing relief to MSMEs, local vendors, and consumers; a a dedicated Reform Task Force to drive nextgeneration reforms; launching the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, announced by the Cabinet earlier, to benefit 30 million young Indians; a High-Powered Demography Mission to address the national security challenge of infiltration; and a National Deepwater Exploration Mission to tap ocean resources, alongside major expansions in solar, hydrogen, hydro and nuclear power.

He also praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fount of the Bharatiya Janata Party that is celebrating its centenary this year.