New Delhi, August 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the Red Fort on Friday, marking India's 79th Independence Day and delivering his 12th consecutive speech on the occasion.
With this, he surpassed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's record for the most successive Independence Day addresses.
Since his first Independence Day speech in 2014, PM Modi has continued the tradition every year without interruption through 2025. Indira Gandhi, while giving 16 Independence Day speeches during her time in office, had delivered 11 consecutively.
This milestone places Modi as the second Indian Prime Minister—after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru—to deliver at least 12 consecutive Independence Day speeches. Nehru remains the record-holder with 17 in a row.
Dressed in a saffron turban, Prime Minister Modi began his address by extending greetings to the nation. He reflected on India's journey since independence, highlighted its achievements over the decades, and outlined his vision for a 'Viksit Bharat'—a developed and self-reliant India.
