‘Dream Big’ To ‘Developed India’ Vow: Top Quotes From PM Modi’s Independence Day Speech

Last Updated:August 15, 2026, 10:42 IST

PM Modi led Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort on Saturday, August 15.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Red Fort | Image credit: ANI/X

Standing at the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his government’s commitment to transforming India into a developed nation by 2047.

PM Modi, who led the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, extended greetings to citizens and paid tribute to those who fought for the nation’s independence in 1947. He also celebrated the first-ever rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day.

The full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ was played for the first time at the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, marking a landmark moment in the country’s official national celebrations.

News18 Also Covered: In A First, Full Version Of ‘Vande Mataram’ Played At Red Fort During I-Day Celebrations | Video

Check Top Quotes From PM’s Speech

1. The heartbeat of every heart echoes with ‘Vande Mataram.’
2. The country today remembers those great personalities who fought for the nation’s freedom.
3. We were once counted among the “Fragile Five”. However, India has, within just 12 years, emerged as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
4. A nation becomes great and achieves its goals when it moves forward on the strength of its dreams, resolutions, and capabilities.
5. My fellow citizens, our country can no longer move forward with small dreams.
6. When our resolve is strong, the ability to find a way through difficulties and disasters emerges on its own.
7. Today, India has also dreamed a very big dream. It has been dreamed with a strong resolve, with the aim of reaching new heights.
8. That dream is that by 2047, when we complete 100 years of independence, we will make India a developed nation.
9. In the last 12 years, defence production has increased by four times; production by Khadi and Gramudyog has increased five times; electronic manufacturing has grown by seven times. Mobile phone production has increased by 33%, and digital transactions have grown by 100%.
10. Dream big, because it expands our thinking and broaden the horizons of our thoughts.
11. Many times, a country does not stop because of a lack of resources… it stops because of the limitations of its thinking. When our thinking becomes confined by limitations, we fail to recognise our own potential.
12. Today, India has to depend on crude oil, and this is also a result of the limitations in our thinking. You will be surprised to know that, because of such an approach, we had declared nearly 99 per cent of our offshore areas as ‘no-go areas.’ We had effectively decided not to undertake exploration beneath the sea. This was a poverty of thinking.
13. Recently, parts of the country have faced the havoc of floods and landslides. Many families have been affected, and we deeply empathize with their suffering. I assure the affected families that we, and the entire nation, stand with them…
14. Before 2014, piped gas reached barely 20–22 lakh households. Today, work is underway to provide piped gas to nearly 1.75 crore households.
15. Energy security is the demand of our times; we have taken several steps for this.

Prime Minister Modi hoisted the tricolour at Red Fort on Saturday, August 15, to mark the 80th Independence Day of India. The hoisting of the National Flag was synchronised with the 21-Gun Salute by the gunners of the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial).

Key Questions Answered

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What specific policies will drive India’s 2047 development goal?

India’s 2047 development goal will be driven by the “Saptadhara” (seven streams of power) announced by Prime Minister Modi, which include manufacturing, agriculture and food products, technology and innovation, Gati Shakti (infrastructure), defence, green and blue economy, and India’s soft power. The plan also aims to expand the economy to between 30 and 40 trillion US dollars, develop a skilled workforce, and ensure public participation.

How will India address its crude oil dependency by 2047?

India plans to address its crude oil dependency by increasing its nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047, accelerating deepwater oil and gas exploration through the Samudra Manthan scheme, and promoting energy self-reliance. Prime Minister Modi stated that India’s current dependence on crude oil is partly due to past limitations in thinking regarding the exploration of its own natural resources.

Could ‘Vande Mataram’ become a more central national anthem?

The national song ‘Vande Mataram’ has been given the same legal status as the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, through the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026. This change means that intentionally disrupting its singing is now considered an insult and a punishable offence. Additionally, for the first time, ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung at the Red Fort during the Independence Day celebrations, before the national anthem.

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Meemansa ShekhawatSub-editor

A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re…Read More

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