The aspirations of Gen Z and the power of 'Yuva Shakti' were at the heart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech on Saturday, coming on the back of the massive student protests last month over exam paper leaks. From a seven-point 'Saptdhara' reform framework to a warning against a new threat that he called "dimaagi naxal", PM Modi used his address from the Red Fort to highlight both the opportunities and challenges facing the country as it hurtles towards its goal of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.

Delivering his 13th consecutive Independence Day speech, becoming only the second PM after Nehru to achieve the milestone, PM Modi also reiterated his 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' push, highlighting semiconductors, critical minerals and energy security as key areas.

One of the strongest political messages in the Prime Minister's address was on women's representation in policymaking. Amid the impasse over the women's quota bill, PM Modi urged the opposition to leave aside differences and ensure 33% reservation for women in Parliament and assemblies.

TAKEAWAYS FROM PM MODI'S I-DAY SPEECH

1) PM MODI'S YOUTH OUTREACH

A major theme of PM Modi's speech, which lasted for around 75 minutes, was the country's youth, as he announced a slew of initiatives to win over Gen Z. Training one crore youth in AI skills and free online coaching for competitive examinations were among the big-ticket announcements by PM Modi. The free coaching initiative, PM Modi said, was aimed particularly at easing the financial burden on poor and middle-class families.

"Youth will lead us towards a Viksit Bharat," PM Modi declared from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

The big shift in the Prime Minister's messaging comes days after Gen Z-led protests over exam paper leaks and unemployment forced the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Education Minister. With more than half of the population under the age of 35, Gen Z is expected to form one of India's largest voting blocs in the 2029 polls.

2) THE SAPTDHARA VISION

PM Modi also unveiled a seven-point 'Saptdhara' roadmap as a new framework for building a 'Viksit' or developed India.

Source: India Today