New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, announced a wide-ranging set of initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities in artificial intelligence, education, sports, civil defence, semiconductor manufacturing, nuclear energy and women-led development.
Among the major announcements was a plan to train one crore young people in AI skills over the next year. Modi said that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence makes it essential for India’s youth to develop the skills needed to compete and lead globally.
The Prime Minister also announced free online coaching for students preparing for various examinations. The initiative will bring together Digital Public Infrastructure, teachers, and available educational talent to provide wider access to quality coaching, particularly benefiting students from poor and middle-class families.
गरीब और मिडिल क्लास परिवारों पर कोचिंग क्लासेज का आर्थिक बोझ ना आए, इसलिए हमने युवाओं के लिए विभिन्न परीक्षाओं की फ्री ऑनलाइन कोचिंग का निर्णय लिया है। इस दिशा में हम एक मजबूत नेटवर्क भी खड़ा करने वाले हैं। pic.twitter.com/3PIfQpJhYA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2026
A nationwide sports talent identification campaign will target children aged five to 15 across villages, cities and schools. Promising young athletes will receive specialised training, with a particular focus on disciplines where India has limited participation or has yet to qualify at the Olympic level.
On national preparedness, Modi announced plans to establish a modern and vibrant Civil Defence network capable of responding to emerging threats. The PM noted that contemporary conflicts can impact critical infrastructure such as refineries, banks, data centres and factories, making older Civil Defence systems inadequate for present-day challenges.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s progress towards semiconductor self-reliance. With three plants already operational and their production being exported, he said another five to eight semiconductor facilities are expected to be established over the next seven to eight years, and described self-reliance in semiconductors as a pathway towards Viksit Bharat.
On energy security, Modi reiterated India’s ambition to reach 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, while aiming to commission five new nuclear reactors during the current decade. The PM also pointed to India’s progress in fast breeder nuclear technology as an important step towards greater energy and fuel self-reliance.
Women-led development was another key focus, with the government raising its ambition from three crore to six crore Lakhpati Didis. Modi noted that creating another three crore financially empowered women would significantly strengthen and transform India’s rural economy.
Together, the announcements outlined a broad development agenda focused on technology, human capital, national resilience, energy security and inclusive economic growth as India works towards its long-term vision of a developed nation.
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