PM Modi Independence Day speech calls for Sabka Prayas to take India forward
The Prime Minister said in the coming days, the government will launch PM Gati Shakti Plan, a 100 lakh crore national infrastructure master plan which will make a foundation for holistic infrastructure and give employment and an integrated pathway to the country’s economy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Sunday on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day. PM Modi called this year’s celebration Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and said it will infuse new energy and new consciousness among the countrymen.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi greeted the country by tweeting: Greetings to you all on Independence Day. May this year of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav infuse new energy and new consciousness among the countrymen. Jai Hind, PM Modi tweeted in Hindi.
Greetings to you all on Independence Day.
आप सभी को 75वें स्वतंत्रता दिवस की बहुत-बहुत बधाई। आजादी के अमृत महोत्सव का यह वर्ष देशवासियों में नई ऊर्जा और नवचेतना का संचार करे।
In his address from the Red Fort, PM Modi made major announcements.
PM Modi said Sainik Schools will be opened to girls. Sometime back, girls’ admission in a Sainik School started in Mizoram. Now the government has decided that all Sainik Schools in the country will now be opened for the daughters of the country. Earlier, only boys were admitted in Sainik Schools, he added.
दो-ढाई साल पहले मिजोरम के सैनिक स्कूल में पहली बार बेटियों को प्रवेश देने का प्रयोग किया गया था।
अब सरकार ने तय किया है कि देश के सभी सैनिक स्कूलों को देश की बेटियों के लिए भी खोल दिया जाएगा: PM @narendramodi
PM Modi in his address emphasized on the need of prioritising the mother tongue He said language should never become a hindrance in development. He said people can move forward with their mother tongue. If people study in their mother tongue, then justice will be done to their talent. The new national education policy is also going to emerge as a big weapon in the fight against poverty because it will give place to the talent of the people.
Now the country has to move towards saturation. 100% villages have roads, 100% households have bank accounts, 100% beneficiaries have Ayushman Bharat cards, 100% eligible persons have Ujjwala gas connections, PM Modi said
The Prime Minister said in the coming days, the government will launch PM Gati Shakti Plan, a 100 lakh crore national infrastructure master plan which will make a foundation for holistic infrastructure and give employment and an integrated pathway to the country’s economy.
He said 75 Vande Bharat trains will be connecting every corner of the country in 75 weeks of the Amrit Festival of Independence, PM Modi said.
Without naming Pakistan, PM Modi targeted the country saying in future, August 14 will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. By conducting surgical strikes and airstrikes, the country has given a message of the emergence of a new India to its enemies. It also conveys that India can take tough decisions, he said.
He also announced plans to introduce fortified rice for the poor under different government schemes and a National Hydrogen Mission in view of climate change. The countrymen have to make India a hub for production and export of Green Hydrogen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
The country’s mantra is Chhota kisan bane desh ki shaan. In coming years, we’ve to further increase the collective strength of small farmers of the country, we will have to provide them new facilities. Kisan rail runs on more than 70 rail routes of the country today, PM Modi said.
Our mantra is 'Chhota kisan bane desh ki shaan'. It's our dream. In yrs to come, we've to further increase the collective strength of small farmers of the country, we will have to provide them new facilities. 'Kisan rail' runs on more than 70 rail routes of the country today: PM pic.twitter.com/QXekg4cmWZ
PM Modi pledged to make India energy independent before completing 100 years of independence. India has moved towards electric mobility and work is underway on 100% electrification of Indian Railways with the aim to becoming net-zero carbon emitter by the year 2030, PM Modi said in his speech.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to all leaders who fought the long and hard battle for Independence, saying, be it Nehru-ji, the first Prime Minister of India, Sardar Patel, who turned the country into a united nation or Babasaheb Ambedkar, who showed India the way to the future, the country is indebted to all of them.
India marks Amrit Mahotsav with a sense of gratitude to those who toiled for freedom and with a commitment to build a strong and prosperous India.
He also greeted the Olympians present on the occasion, urging the the nation to applaud their achievement today. They have not only won hearts but also inspired future generations. Thirty-two athletes – including those who won medals at the Olympics – were invited to participate in the celebrations at the iconic Red Fort.
It’s a major turning point for the country. In this decade the country has to further speed up drive to bring in talent, technology and professionalism in sports in the country. It’s a matter of pride that India’s daughters are giving a splendid performance, be it Boards exams or Olympics, PM Modi added.
Mentioning the ongoing battle against Covid-19 crisis and the loss of lives since last year, PM Modi said 54 crore people have got vaccine doses. Despite all the efforts, the government has not been able to save many people. Many children lost their parents.
PM Modi also paid to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
Paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. His thoughts and ideals continue to guide us as we work towards fulfilling people's aspirations. pic.twitter.com/BDmBxwWWcD
Actor Imran Khan asked to leave India after CJP protest
Actor Imran Khan has been asked to leave India by October 28, days after participating in a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Mumbai.
Actor Imran Khan, nephew of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, has been asked to leave India by the Mumbai Police, days after participating in a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Mumbai.
According to the notice, the actor has been given until October 28 to leave the country. The development follows his participation in the demonstration, which brought the actor into the spotlight over his involvement in a political protest.
Imran Khan is believed to hold US citizenship and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card rather than full Indian citizenship, according to the report.
What led to the notice against Imran Khan?
The notice came days after Imran Khan joined a protest called by the CJP in Mumbai. The group, described as a satirical political organisation, had called for the demonstration.
The actor’s participation was followed by action from the authorities, with the Mumbai Police directing him to leave India by the specified deadline.
The notice does not, by itself, mean that the actor has already left the country or has been deported. October 28 is the deadline mentioned for his departure.
Imran Khan and his citizenship status
Imran Khan is known for his work in Hindi films, including Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na and Delhi Belly. He is also the nephew of actor Aamir Khan.
The report states that Imran Khan is believed to be a US citizen and hold an OCI card. OCI status does not confer Indian citizenship, although it provides eligible foreign citizens of Indian origin with specified privileges under Indian law.
The notice directing the actor to leave India follows his participation in the Mumbai protest. The reported development has brought attention to the intersection of immigration rules and the participation of foreign nationals in political demonstrations.
Election Commission orders voter roll revision in 17 states, UTs
The Election Commission has ordered a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in 17 states and Union Territories. Draft rolls are scheduled for November 12, with final rolls due on January 4, 2027.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in 17 states and Union Territories, with the exercise aimed at facilitating voter registration and including eligible electors who may have been left out during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The order was issued on Thursday, October 15, amid continuing political controversy over the SIR process and concerns raised by opposition parties regarding the exclusion of names from electoral rolls.
Under the announced schedule, January 1, 2027, will be the qualifying date for the revision. The draft electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on November 12, while the final rolls are due on January 4, 2027. Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, two states included in the exercise, are scheduled to go to the polls by February 2027.
Which states and Union Territories are covered?
The Special Summary Revision will cover the following 17 states and Union Territories:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Assam
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Goa
Gujarat
Kerala
Lakshadweep
Madhya Pradesh
Manipur
Puducherry
Punjab
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
Uttarakhand
West Bengal
The Election Commission’s order follows earlier instructions issued to state election officials on September 29 to undertake a special drive to enrol eligible voters who had been left out, along with young and first-time electors.
Why has the Election Commission ordered the revision?
The announcement comes amid protests and political disagreements over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have raised concerns about names being excluded during the exercise.
Another point of contention has been an additional declaration required from applicants submitting Form 6 for voter enrolment while the SIR was underway. The declaration required applicants to map their parents to the last SIR, which was conducted around 20 years ago.
The Election Commission had clarified on October 7 that the additional declaration applied only in states and Union Territories where the SIR was being conducted. It said the regular forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would apply outside the SIR period.
The latest SSR order refers to applications for inclusion through Form 6 but does not mention the additional declaration.
What happens in states not covered by the current schedule?
The Election Commission has said that the schedule for the Special Summary Revision will be announced later in states and Union Territories where the SIR is ongoing or has recently been completed.
These include Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura and Telangana.
For Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, where the SIR has not yet started, the schedule for electoral roll revision will be announced in due course, taking local weather conditions into account.
The Election Commission’s latest order sets out a separate timeline for the 17 states and Union Territories covered by the current SSR exercise, while leaving the schedules for the other regions to be announced later.
India-US trade deal first phase finalised, drafting underway
The first phase of the India-US trade agreement has been finalised and is undergoing legal drafting, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said. The deal is expected to be operationalised once India secures a competitive advantage over peer countries.
The first phase of the proposed India-US trade agreement has been finalised and is undergoing legal drafting, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. However, the agreement is yet to be fully finalised and implemented, with India seeking a competitive advantage over other countries before putting it into operation.
Speaking at the SRCC Centenary Conclave in New Delhi, Goyal said the first tranche of the bilateral agreement had been finalised and was going through the legal drafting process. He expressed hope that the process would be completed soon.
The minister said implementation would follow once India secured a comparable or competitive advantage over its peer countries in the American market.
India seeks an advantage over competing exporters
India wants its exporters to receive favourable market access and tariff terms compared with competitors. Goyal’s remarks indicate that the relative position of Indian goods in the US market remains an important consideration before the agreement becomes operational.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also spoke about the negotiations at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum this week. He said the discussions were approaching a possible resolution but noted that India’s position relative to competing economies remained an issue.
Jaishankar said the outcome would depend partly on the terms negotiated between India and the United States and partly on how India fares against other competing economies.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the negotiations were progressing in the right direction and that both countries hoped to conclude and sign the agreement at the earliest possible time.
He explained that the signing would depend on the formalisation of the broader tariff structure in the United States. Parallel work was also underway in Washington, including processes linked to Section 301.
Agrawal indicated that the two sides would move towards signing the agreement at a mutually agreed time after the relevant tariff framework was formalised.
Earlier this month, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said India and the United States were working to resolve outstanding issues, although an agreement was not imminent at that point.
India-US trade talks and bilateral relations
India and the United States have been negotiating the proposed bilateral trade pact since early 2025. The discussions aim to address tariff-related differences, reduce non-tariff barriers and improve market access between the two countries.
The negotiations have taken place against the backdrop of broader strains in bilateral relations, including disputes over tariffs and differences concerning other policy issues.
While the finalisation of the first tranche marks progress in the negotiations, the agreement still needs to move through the remaining legal and procedural steps before it can be signed and implemented.
The next steps will depend on the completion of legal drafting, the finalisation of the US tariff framework and the two countries’ agreement on the terms governing the pact.
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