NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined an ambitious roadmap for transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, announcing a series of major initiatives including AI training for one crore youth, a nationwide free online coaching network, expansion of semiconductor manufacturing, a new civil defence framework and a target of 100 GW nuclear power capacity by the centenary of Independence.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi said India had entered a decisive phase in its development journey and called for a collective national effort to achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
“We have resolved to build a developed India by the 100th year of Independence,” the Prime Minister said, while presenting what he described as the next stage of economic and technological transformation.
In one of the key announcements of his address, Modi said the government would train one crore young people in Artificial Intelligence skills over the next year to prepare the workforce for emerging technologies. He also announced a nationwide free online coaching platform that will use Digital Public Infrastructure and leading educators to assist students preparing for competitive examinations.
The Prime Minister unveiled a seven-point development framework — Saptdhara or Sapt Shakti — centred on manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, technology and innovation, infrastructure, defence production, the green and blue economy, and India’s soft power.
Projecting self-reliance as central to India’s growth strategy, Modi said three semiconductor plants were already operational and exporting chips, while seven to eight additional facilities would become functional within the next two years. He also announced a target of 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047 and said five new reactors would be commissioned within six to seven years.
Highlighting progress in energy and infrastructure, Modi said solar power capacity had risen to 160 GW and the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana had crossed 50 lakh beneficiary households. He also announced that work had begun on India’s first indigenous hydrogen-powered train.
On national security, the Prime Minister announced the creation of a modern voluntary Civil Defence network and said defence exports had expanded to around 100 countries. He also called for vigilance against “ideological extremism” and reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling drug abuse through a nationwide 100-week campaign.
Seeking to place youth at the centre of the development agenda, Modi highlighted the growth of India’s startup ecosystem, expansion of higher education institutions and increasing private participation in sectors such as space technology, drones and innovation.
He also announced a Nationwide Sports Talent Hunt for children aged 5 to 15 years and reiterated India’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics.
The Prime Minister said welfare programmes now covered nearly 100 crore citizens and urged people to actively participate in the country’s first digital census through online self-registration.
Concluding his address, Modi called on citizens to work collectively towards achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047, saying the country’s future would be shaped by ambition, self-reliance and rapid execution of reforms.
