PM Modi’s Wishlist For Country’s Future
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, mentions several areas where the country aspires to be a global leader in the near future
In his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought with him a list full of goals for the Country’s future. From commitment to becoming a global leader in semiconductor production to realising the treasure that ‘Swasth Bharat’ possesses, PM’s address had it all. From an enhanced focus on higher education to transforming the country into a global manufacturing hub, let’s have a closer look at what the country’s political head had to say.
The Prime Minister emphasised positioning India as the global education hub by promoting higher education, learning and research. He sought to revive the ancient Nalanda University spirit. As far as the current status of India’s higher education is concerned, two Indian universities have secured their position under the top 150 universities in the world, as per the QS World University Rankings 2025.
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) has improved its position by 31 ranks and has climbed from 149 in 2024 to 118 in 2025 rankings. It is followed by IIT Delhi, which climbed 47 ranks in the latest rankings. IIT-D is now at 150 from 197 in 2024. Nearly, 61 per cent of the country’s universities have improved their rankings, indicating a shift towards quality education.
PM Modi outlined the country’s commitment to become a global leader in semiconductor production, in order to reduce import dependency and enhance the country’s self-sufficiency. Currently, the modified scheme for setting up of semiconductor fabs in the country has an outlay of Rs 1,500 crore for the current financial year. In the interim budget presented in February 2024, the Centre had allocated Rs 6,903 crore for the semiconductor sector.
The Centre had approved the Semicon India Programme with a total outlay of Rs 76,000 crore for the development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
During his address, the Prime Minister envisioned transforming the country into a global manufacturing hub by the optimum utilisation of its vast resources and skilled workforce. As per the data shared by the Minister of State (MoS) for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada in Rajya Sabha, there has been a 69 per cent increase in the foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflows in the manufacturing sector in the last ten financial years (2014-24) as the numbers have increased from USD 97.7 billion in the 2001-14 period to 165.1 billion in 2014-24 period.
However, the growth in the manufacturing sector slipped to 2.6 per cent in June 2024. The manufacturing sector growth during April-June 2024 remained at 3.8 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.
In his speech, the PM emphasised the importance of green jobs in the country’s efforts to tackle the climate change issue. He also reiterated the country’s commitment to becoming a global leader in green hydrogen production. On 4th January 2023, the Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with an initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore. It includes an outlay of Rs 14,490 crore for the Sight programme (strategic interventions for green hydrogen transition), Rs 1,466 crore for pilot projects, Rs 400 crore for research and development (R and D) and Rs 388 crore for other components of the mission.
In the interim budget for 2024-25, the Centre had increased the allocation for the mission to Rs 600 crore, marking a 102 per cent increase from Rs 297 crore in the previous year. The mission has the objective of targeting the production of atleast five million metric tonne (MMT) per annum of green hydrogen by 2030.
Deepak Sood, Secretary General, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) shared his views on the segment and said, “Reiteration of India's goal for sustainable economic growth provides an impetus to the goal of 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The importance of green jobs in India's efforts to combat climate change is also a directional change that would make environment protection a national priority.”
In his address, the Prime Minister shed light on the importance of having a ‘Swasth Bharat’ (healthy India) to become ‘Viksit Bharat (developed India) by 2047. The PM mentioned the Rashtriya Poshan Abhiyan (National Nutrition Campaign). The mission’s objective is to lay emphasis on the nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children from 0 to 6 years of age.
As per Unicef’s Child Nutrition Report 2024, India is among 20 countries with severe child food poverty. The percentage of children living in severe child food poverty in the country is 40 per cent which is categorised as high. While PM Modi has outlined several goals aimed at shaping the country’s goals, the road ahead requires consistent efforts on everyone’s part.
While speaking at the World Trade Center Mumbai, Rahul Narwekar, Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly said, "Prime Minister has given a vision for India to be a world leader in innovation, education, quality standards, semiconductor, green hydrogen and many other sectors. We need to commit ourselves to sustainable development by generating green economic growth, and green jobs and attaining 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. We should take the pledge to pursue our Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Design in India and Design for the World’ and transform India into a global economic Superpower.”
Currently, India is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world which witnessed the growth of more than 7 per cent in the past three consecutive years and this year as well the country is expected to grow at 7.2 per cent. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai said, "The entire nation is inspired by the grand vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. We are on the verge of becoming a global Hub of not only fintech but also in agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, defence equipment, space technology, tourism and so on.”
