Based on the Prime Minister’s address on India’s 79th Independence Day, here are some of the major announcements and highlights:

  • PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: A new scheme with a budget of ₹1 lakh crore was launched to empower India’s youth. The program provides a financial incentive of ₹15,000 to young people securing their first job in the private sector.
  • Next-Generation GST Reforms: The Prime Minister announced that new GST reforms would be implemented by Diwali. These reforms are intended to reduce taxes on everyday items, offering significant tax relief to citizens and benefiting small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
  • “Made in India” Semiconductor Chips: A major milestone in India’s technological journey was announced, with the Prime Minister stating that domestically manufactured semiconductor chips would be available in the market by the end of the year.
  • “Sudarshan Chakra” Defence System: A new, state-of-the-art defense system called “Sudarshan Chakra” was announced. The system is designed to protect all critical national sites and will be fully developed by 2035.
  • High-Powered Demography Mission: A new mission was launched to address the issue of demographic imbalance caused by infiltration and illegal migration in border areas, with the goal of safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation.
  • Indus Water Treaty Review: The Prime Minister stated that India would be reviewing the Indus Water Treaty, calling it “unjust and one-sided” and emphasizing that India would no longer tolerate an arrangement that harmed its farmers.
  • Self-Reliance in Critical Minerals and Fertilizers: The government is working to achieve “atmanirbharta” (self-reliance) in critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, as well as in fertilizer production, to reduce dependence on imports.
  • Expansion of Nuclear Energy: As part of a mission to increase India’s nuclear power capacity tenfold by 2047, work is underway on ten new nuclear reactors.
  • National Deepwater Exploration Mission: A new mission was announced to tap into ocean resources for energy, as part of a broader push for energy independence.