Modi’s I-Day roadmap: Education, agriculture, security
India to become defence manufacturing hub
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for India to become a global centre for defence manufacturing, highlighting the need for self-reliance in advanced areas such as hypersonic technology and drone systems.
During his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, Modi spoke about the security threats India faces both inside and outside the country. He also announced plans to build a strong network of civil defence personnel. The PM added that work is ongoing on Sudarshan Chakra, an Indian-made air defence system.
Modi first announced the project on August 15 last year. The Sudarshan Chakra is designed to strengthen India’s air defence, protect important military and civilian sites, and respond effectively to enemy threats.
The armed forces are developing the project amid security concerns from Pakistan and China.
The prime minister said expanding defence production in India is key to strengthening the country’s strategic position. “We have to become a global supplier by leveraging next-generation defence technology,” he said.
He stressed the need for India to develop expertise in making drones, counter-drone systems, and hypersonic technologies. Modi also pointed out that India’s defence production has been increasing. In the last few years, the Government has rolled out a series of policy initiatives to boost domestic defence manufacturing. The volume of India’s domestic defence production was recorded at Rs 1.78 lakh crore in the financial year 2025-26, compared with Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, according to the latest Government data. Defence exports have reached Rs 38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26.
Modi said that India’s defence exports have grown 50-fold, and Indian military equipment is now supplied to almost 100 countries, though he did not provide a specific timeline.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that military projects worth over Rs 8.75 lakh crore were approved in the past year, showing the Modi Government’s commitment to modernising the armed forces.
Free online coaching for competitive exams
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that the Government will offer free online coaching to help candidates prepare for competitive exams. This move is meant to ease the financial burden on families. “Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams,” Modi said in his address to the nation on India’s 80th Independence Day.“Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching class, they are not a prestigious family,” he said.
He said this initiative should help families save money they would otherwise spend on coaching classes and let students study from home. “And therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various examinations for the youth. We have digital public infrastructure; we have excellent talent and teachers. By bringing these resources together, we are going to build a complete network to provide free coaching to the youth of the country,” PM Modi said.
PM urges farmers to adopt chemical-free farming
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged farmers to adopt chemical-free farming on a large scale, citing rising global demand for such produce.
In his Independence Day address, Modi outlined a seven-point reform framework, ‘Sapta Dhara’, aimed at driving India’s development by 2047. The framework includes manufacturing, agro-food production and processing, technology and innovation, logistics, defence, green and blue economy, and soft power.
One of the ‘Sapt Dhara’ is agriculture and food production. “We must move forward in the direction of food processing as well. Our farmers now have access to global markets. Because of FTAs (free trade agreements), we have access to very large markets, and we must reach them. We must tap into that opportunity. We have to move from the farm to the export market,” PM Modi said.
Modi said India has a wide range of traditional cuisine, millets, spices, fruits, and flowers that can be promoted internationally as global brands.
“Our farmers should give greater impetus to chemical-free farming, as the demand for such products is only going to increase across the world,” Modi said.
India’s foodgrain production rose from 265.05 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 376.56 million tonnes in 2025-26. Horticulture output increased from 280.70 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 377.78 million tonnes in 2025-26.
Plan to modernise civil defence force
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced plans to modernise the civil defence volunteer force, stating that the existing system, designed for earlier conflicts, is inadequate to address current threats to critical infrastructure, such as refineries, banks, and data centres.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi emphasised the need to strengthen both military and civilian preparedness in response to evolving forms of warfare. There is no longer any guarantee that a war will only be fought along border frontiers,” Modi said.
He noted that threats may originate from distant locations and could target refineries, banks, data centres, factories, and other key infrastructure.
“In these changing times, we have to increase the capability of our armed forces, but at the same time we must also prepare our citizens,” the prime minister said. Modi stated that the current civil defence system, designed for previous forms of conflict, is now outdated and will be updated to address contemporary challenges.
“Today, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I announce that in the coming days, we will establish a vibrant network of civil defence. We will familiarise them with modern systems,” he said. He said the Government will evaluate requirements for protecting citizens in modern crises and establish a large, modern civil defence volunteer force equipped to respond to current threats.
The Civil Defence Rules, 1968, reflect many of the concerns of conventional warfare from that period. They provided for measures such as control of lights and sounds, protection against hostile aircraft, evacuation, fire prevention, rescue services, and public training for civil defence.
The system was put through a major test in May last year when the Government conducted ‘Operation Abhyaas’, a nationwide civil defence exercise against the backdrop of heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.
According to the Home Ministry, the May 7, 2025 exercise covered 400 districts, including 244 categorised civil defence districts. The exercise included activation of air-raid early-warning links with the Indian Air Force, blackout measures, evacuation drills and measures to protect vital installations.
He linked the planned civil defence reforms to broader Government initiatives to strengthen national defence, referencing Mission Sudarshan Chakra, announced last year to enhance protection of strategic and civilian infrastructure. He stated that implementation of the mission is progressing rapidly. A secure India is our collective responsibility. Whether the challenge arises from within our borders or from beyond them, India is fully prepared for every situation,” the Prime Minister said.
