NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his government is making concerted efforts to establish India as a global manufacturing hub by leveraging its extensive resources and skilled workforce.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 78th Independence Day, Modi urged Indian businesses to “design in India, design for the world,” aiming to enhance product quality and set Indian standards as global benchmarks.
He highlighted the success of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which has positioned India as a key player in smartphone production and attracted significant foreign investment.
States told to implement pro-investment policies
Modi encouraged states to seize this opportunity by implementing clear, pro-investment policies, creating land banks, and ensuring good governance and adherence to the rule of law.
He expressed optimism about India’s potential to lead the global gaming market and emphasized the focus on green growth and jobs, which will both create employment opportunities and contribute to environmental protection.
The theme of his speech centered on achieving “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, reflecting the aspirations of the country’s youth, who seek more substantial progress.
Rs1tr for skill development
Modi detailed efforts to skill the youth, including a new internship program announced in the Union Budget for FY 25. He mentioned the allocation of Rs1 trillion for research and innovation, plans to add 75,000 medical seats in the next five years, and the creation of 100,000 medical seats over the past decade.
Modi also highlighted the success of women’s self-help groups, noting that 100 million women have joined, with 10 million becoming ‘lakhpati didis,’ and banks disbursing Rs 9 trillion in loans to these groups.
He urged 300,000 governance units, from panchayats to central government, to implement at least two reforms annually, aiming for 2.5 to 3 million reforms across the country each year.
