Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a series of measures focused on youth skills, education, sports, civil defence, semiconductors and nuclear energy in his Independence Day 2026 speech from the Red Fort on Saturday.
The key announcements include AI skill training for 1 crore youth over the next year, free online coaching for examination aspirants, a modernised Civil Defence network, a nationwide sports talent hunt, 7-8 new semiconductor production plants and a 100 GW nuclear energy target by 2047.
The announcements came as Modi emphasises on his vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and called for faster progress across sectors.
Modi announced a nationwide mission to provide AI skill training to 1 crore youth over the next year.
“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 force, it is the youth of my country. It is the power of my nation's youth. The youth have an immense role to play in the journey toward a Viskit Bharat... Today, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I wish to make an announcement for the youth of the country: We have resolved that in the coming one year, we will work to provide AI skill training to 1 crore youth, so that the youth of our nation possess the capability to lead the world in the domain of AI as well,” Modi said.
Modi also announced free online coaching for students preparing for various examinations, saying the cost of coaching has become a burden for poor and middle-class families.
“Coaching classes burden on poor, middle class; we will provide free online coaching for various exams,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also announced plans to establish a vibrant Civil Defence network with modern training and capabilities to deal with evolving security threats and contemporary crises.
“I announce today from the Red Fort that we will establish a vibrant Civil Defence network in the coming days. We will familiarize them with modern systems. What measures can be put in place to protect citizens from modern-day crises? We are going to create a massive, modern Civil Defence volunteer force capable of overcoming contemporary challenges,” Modi said.
Modi also announced a nationwide sports talent identification campaign targeting children aged 5 to 15 years across villages and cities.
The initiative is aimed at identifying sporting talent at an early age and creating a wider pipeline of athletes from across the country.
Semiconductor manufacturing was another major focus of Modi's Independence Day announcements.
The Prime Minister said 7-8 new semiconductor production plants are expected to become operational within the next one to two years, strengthening India's domestic chip manufacturing capabilities.
Modi has repeatedly linked semiconductor manufacturing with India's push for self-reliance and reducing dependence on other countries for critical technologies.
“India has set up semi-conductor plants in its bid to become 'aatmanirbhar'; production has started already,” Modi said.
Modi also announced a long-term nuclear energy target, with India aiming to reach 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
He said five new nuclear reactors are expected to become operational within the next six to seven years.
“We have set target of 200 GW nuclear energy; setting up 5 new nuclear reactors,” Modi said.
The nuclear energy push comes as India seeks to expand its domestic energy capacity while increasing the share of cleaner sources in its energy mix.
The announcements on AI skills, free coaching and sports came alongside Modi's broader emphasis on India's young population.
“The youth have a big role in the journey to become a Viksit Bharat. The biggest beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat will be the youth of the country,” Modi said.
Modi also invoked ‘Shakti Ki Saptadhara’, identifying seven areas that he said would provide a new current of strength to India's development: manufacturing, agriculture and food production, technology and innovation, Gati Shakti, defence, the green and blue economy, and soft power.
The Prime Minister said India must use these seven strengths to achieve in the next five to seven years what could not be achieved in the previous five to seven decades.
