PM's I-Day speech: Saptdhara, Gen Z, Dimaagi Naxal take centre stage

From the ramparts of the Red Fort,Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday warned of a new enemy: "Dimaagi Naxal." "Armed Naxals are gone, but 'intellectual Naxals' still lurking; we must be vigilant," PM Modi said, addressing the nation on India's 80th Independence Day. He called for the isolation of what he described as “dimaagi Naxals” — those influenced by Maoist ideology who, he alleged, attempt to penetrate institutions and create unrest. These ideological Naxals are looking for opportunities. They are searching for ways to promote violence and anarchy and are making various attempts to pull society in the wrong direction, he said.

#WATCH | Delhi: From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "For years, individuals with a Maoist mindset had entrenched themselves within the corridors of power in the country. This Maoist ideology influenced policies, even through their roles as… pic.twitter.com/1vqeavpj0U

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

Modi, in his Independence Day speech , defined seven streams that are India's stength and will power India's next level of growth. He termed them "Saptadhara". Calling on Indians to work to leverage these seven streams, Prime Minister said that these streams will make India Aatmanirbhar (self reliant) and developed. "Today, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I call upon the nation to embrace 'Shakti Ki Saptadhara'." Listing out the seven streams, PM Modi said manufacturing, farming, technology, gatishakti, raksha shakti, green energy, and soft power are India's Saptadhara.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Today, I would also like to recall that era when the nation knew, understood, and heard of India's prowess in the form of the 'Sapta Sindhu'. Now, to build a Viksit Bharat, we need a new current. Today, from the ramparts of the Red Fort,… pic.twitter.com/fuCVZGPH7l

— IANS (@ians_india) August 15, 2026

Modi announced free online coaching for competitive exams during his speech on Independence Day from Red Fort. Modi said that coaching classes are a burden on the poor and middle class and that young people need to stay closer to their families. “The competition surrounding coaching classes has become a huge burden for middle-class families. Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching centre, they are somehow falling behind or do not belong to a respectable family,” Modi said, adding that the government wants to help people save the thousands of crores of rupees they spend on coaching.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "My dear fellow citizens, when I speak of a Viksit Bharat, when I speak of advancing the nation at high speed—who is the greatest beneficiary of this? Who is the greatest driving force behind all these efforts? If there is a driving… pic.twitter.com/AMdmOsOOLS

— IANS (@ians_india) August 15, 2026

Modi highlighted the multiple crises India faced over the past decade, from the Covid-19 pandemic and wars to fears over shortages of essential supplies, saying the country overcame them through careful planning and preparation.Modi said the pandemic had plunged the world into uncertainty and placed systems under severe strain. As countries began recovering from Covid-19, wars in Ukraine and West Asia brought fresh challenges, he said. The Prime Minister also criticised those who, according to him, spread alarming predictions and rumours during times of crisis.