October 9 – GS 2 Governance: 2025 | UPSC Daily Answer Writing Practice PDF Download

Q. Elaborate on the key announcements made by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day address.

Introduction

• India, with a goal to become a developed nation by 2047, needs to implement serious changes in various areas like the economy, defense, technology, and society.
• On the 79th Independence Day in 2025, the Prime Minister of India delivered a speech from the Red Fort.
• He talked about important announcements that included:
  • National security measures to protect the country.
  • Indigenous defense advancements to strengthen military capabilities.
  • GST reforms to improve tax systems.
  • Addressing demographic concerns related to the population.
• The Prime Minister aims to find a balance between ideological unity and material growth for the nation.

Body

• Zero tolerance to terrorism: The Prime Minister emphasized that national security is a top priority, firmly stating that India will not tolerate terrorism. This shows India's commitment to protecting its sovereignty.
• Next-generation GST reforms: The Prime Minister discussed plans to simplify taxes and provide relief to industries, which are seen as essential changes to make business easier and encourage spending. 
  • For example, new GST reforms set to launch by Deepavali 2025 will lessen the tax burden on essential goods and services, helping businesses thrive.
• Recognition of armed forces’ achievements: The speech highlighted the successes of India's armed forces, demonstrating the country's improved defense readiness and growing reliance on home-made technology. 
  • For instance, Operation Sindoor was praised as evidence of the strength of India's military and its own weapons.
• Tackling internal insurgencies: The address focused on the need to deal with internal security issues, aiming to reduce extremist violence and enhance law enforcement in troubled regions. 
  • Recent achievements in fighting the Maoist insurgency were highlighted as significant progress.
• Development of indigenous defence systems: A vision was presented for creating advanced domestic defense technologies, which aim to counter threats and ensure a strong retaliatory capability. 
  • For example, Mission Sudarshan Chakra is a completely home-grown defense system expected to be operational by 2035, designed to defend against and respond to enemy attacks.
• Self-reliance in multiple fields: The economic vision is focused on reducing reliance on outside sources by enhancing local capabilities across various sectors.
• Launch of High-Powered Demography Mission: A new mission was introduced to address long-term changes in population, which is seen as vital for maintaining India's social balance. 
  • This mission aims to counter what the Prime Minister described as a "deliberate conspiracy" to change India's demographic landscape.
• Concerns on infiltration: The Prime Minister connected national security and identity with undocumented immigration, viewing it as a threat to the integrity of the population.

Conclusion

• Prime Minister's Independence Day speech included important plans for development and strong ideas.
• The economic reforms and improvements in defense, such as Mission Sudarshan Chakra, are steps towards the vision of a developed India by 2047.
• Changes in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) are also part of this vision.
• However, the focus on the demographic mission might take attention away from inclusive development.
• The success of the plan for 2047 will rely on balancing national security, self-reliance, and social unity.