What are the details of PM Modi's 80th Independence Day speech?

PM Modi delivered his shortest Independence Day speech in four years, lasting 75 minutes, addressing topics such as AI, semiconductors, and MSMEs, as well as touching upon youth outreach through initiatives like free online coaching.

Why did PM Modi announce free online coaching for students?

PM Modi emphasized that coaching classes have become a financial burden for poor and middle-class families, and the initiative aims to alleviate this pressure while providing equal access to quality education.

How many youths will receive training in AI skills as per PM Modi's announcement?

PM Modi announced that 10 million youths will be trained in AI skills over the next year to empower them and enhance India's global standing in technology.

PM Modi delivers shortest Independence Day speech in 4 years. His longest address was this

The length of PM Modi's speech is also noteworthy as it comes just one year after he set a record for the longest Independence Day speech - at 103 minutes.

Published on: Aug 15, 2026, 11:19:15 IST

By HT News Desk

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from Red Fort on Saturday as India marked the 80th Independence Day. However, the prime minister spoke for only 75 minutes, his shortest address in four years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort during the celebrations to mark the country's Independence Day in New Delhi. (AFP)

While the address itself touched upon many subjects - including Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, Naxalism, MSMEs, concert economy, higher studies and coaching classes, the overall length of the speech was shortest since 2023, when the prime minister spoke for 90 minutes. Follow live updates on Independence Day 2026 here.

The length of his speech is also noteworthy this time as it comes just one year after he set a record for the longest Independence Day speech - at 103 minutes.

Deep Dive

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Including today, PM Modi has delivered 13 Independence Day speeches from Red Fort since the NDA-led government came to power in 2014.

Here's a breakdown of how long the PM spoke for on Independence Day over the years:

2014: 65 minutes

2015: 88 minutes

2016: 96 minutes

2017: 56 minutes

2018: 83 minutes

2019: 92 minutes

2020: 90 minutes

2021: 88 minutes

2022: 74 minutes

2023: 90 minutes

2024: 98 minutes

2025: 103 minutes

2026: 75 minutes

Some records for PM Modi

Before making a record for the longest Independence Day speech from Red Fort last year, PM Modi in 2015 broke the record of former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and IK Gujral's Independence Day speeches from 1947, and 1997, respectively.

While Nehru addressed the nation for 72 minutes after India received independence, Gujral spoke for 71 minutes in 1997. PM Modi, however, spoke for 88 minutes in 2015.

Free online coaching, big Gen Z outreach

From announcing free online coaching for students to issuing an appeal to them to help their family out with the Census process, PM Modi reached out to the Gen Z many times during his Independence Day speech this time.

“Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams. Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching class, they are not a prestigious family,” PM Modi said.

The prime minister also announced that one crore youth will be trained in AI skills in the next one year.

Also Read: Free coaching classes, AI training: PM Modi's big Gen Z outreach in I-Day speech

His youth outreach comes weeks after a big student-led protest against the NEET-UG paper leak. It was after this demonstration led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the students' repeated demands of exam reforms and accountability that Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as education minister.

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HT News Desk
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