As the 78th Independence Day of India approaches, it is yet again time for the annual Prime Ministerial speech from the ramparts of Delhi's Red Fort. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his 11th Independence Day Speech this year on August 15, 2024. He will first unfurl the national flag and then deliver the customary address to the nation from the ramparts of the historic monument.

Ahead of the Independence Day 2024, here's a brief compilation of all the previous 10 speeches of PM Modi on the occasion of Independence Day from 2014 to 2023.

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2014

Expressing himself not as the "Prime Minister" but as the "Prime Servant of India", PM Narendra Modi began his first Independence Day Speech bowing to all the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for India's independence. He said to the country's youth that casteism, communalism or sectarianism was a poison and hindrance to the country’s progress and emphasised the need to set the society free of these tensions. The PM also declared his desire to link every citizen of the country with a bank account facility through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and provide maximum employment to the youth. He put forward his vision to promote tourism, Digital India and the Information Technology sector. He stressed on sanitary hygiene with the launch of the first Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and also spearheaded the slogan "Make in India" for the manufacturing industry. He further added, "If you will work for 12 hours, I will work for 13... I have come with this government as a servant, not as a ruler."

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2014 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of his entire speech here.

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2015

Calling Independence Day as "the dawn of the freedom-festival of the greatest democracy of the world", PM Narendra Modi underlined his government's dedication to "Team India," emphasising the importance of group initiatives for growth. He also mentioned important programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhaan Mantri Krishi Sinchaai Yojna, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Digital India, financial inclusion schemes like subsidies on LPG, and "Neem Coated Urea". He also announced the start of "Start-up India" and "Stand-up India" to boost the entrepreneurial culture in the development of the country. Emphasising the value of openness, sound leadership and unity within the country, he praised India's achievements in the field of renewable energy and urged cooperation in the battle against social ills like communalism and casteism. He concluded his speech describing his 'dream' for a country where "no one should remain backward in our society and everyone should enjoy equal rights and entire Indian society should reel in harmony".

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2015 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of his entire speech here.

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2016

In his third speech on the 70th Independence Day of India, PM Narendra Modi described his primary goal and "responsibility to convert our Swaraj into Suraaj". He described "Suraaj" as "the progress of the common man" with a "government that is sensitive to the requirements and aspirations of the common man". The PM spoke about the "Karya Sanskriti" of the government and iterated that responsibility and accountability are the roots of Suraaj. He mentioned the various areas his government has worked on in the past year, such as 'One nation, One grid and One price', the solar energy sector, maximising crop yield through schemes like "Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee", electrification of more than 10,000 villages and increasing pension of freedom fighters, all the while keeping the inflation under 6%.

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2016 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of the briefs of his speech here.

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2017

PM Narendra Modi started the 71st Independence Speech acknowledging the centenary of Champaran Satyagraha and the 125th anniversary of Ganesh Utsav, highlighting their importance in the freedom struggle of the country. While putting out his determination of creating a 'New India', PM Narendra Modi announced the requirement of a call for “Bharat Jodo”, to collectively take the country forward. Exclaiming that Indians were celebrating the “festival of honesty” today, he also highlighted the success of policies like the One rank, One Pension, GST, Benami Act, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samapada Yojana and expressed his desire to work for the progress of Jammu and Kashmir "Neither by bullet: nor by abuses." He mentioned that governance in India should be of the essence of "Tantra se Lok nahin, Lok se tantra chalega" and concluded by to build an India free of terrorism, casteism, and communalism saying," India is about Shanti, Ekta and Sadbhavana."

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2017 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of the briefs of his speech here.

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2018

On the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day, PM Narendra Modi wished the country from the Red Fort and listed out the achievements of India in the past few years. Prime Minister Modi claimed that India has advanced significantly in fields like science, technology, and agriculture and was no longer considered a fragile nation. He highlighted the success of the MUDRA scheme in generating employment, the all-women INS Tarini crew for circumnavigating the globe and celebrated honesty and tax compliance with GST's success in reducing black money and eliminating middlemen-culture. He also highlighted how 5 crore Indians were taken out of poverty as well as the reduction of left-wing extremism in the North-Eastern states. He hailed the justice system saying "Rapists of minors are getting capital punishments now." Mentioning the success of schemes like Ujjwala, Jan Arogya Abhiyan and Saubhagya Yojana in reducing the plight of the poor, he provided his vision "to ensure social justice for all and create an India that is progressing rapidly."

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2018 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of the briefs of his speech here.

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2019

As the 72nd Independence Day fell on the eve of the Raksha Bandhan and the 550th Parv of Guru Nanak Dev festivals, PM Narendra Modi extended his best wishes for both the occasions while highlighting the need to not forget the dire flooding situation in parts of the country. He highlighted the constitutional accomplishment of revoking Article 370 and 35A within 10 weeks as "a significant step towards fulfilling the dream of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel." Furthermore, he also emphasised the importance of the law against Triple Talaq, schemes like Bharat Mala Project, One Nation One Tax (GST), introduction of Vande Bharat Express, and the success of the mantra "Sabka Saath- Sabka Vikas" in laying the roadmap for a developed India. He hailed the democracy of the country in respect of the recent elections saying, "It was the people of India who were contesting the election." He concluded his speech highlighting the importance of "Self-reliance" for achieving "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" saying, "When self-reliance occurs, self-esteem develops automatically and self-esteem has very strong potential."

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2019 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of his entire speech here. 

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2020

While addressing the country on the 74th Independence Day, PM Narendra Modi began his speech by payign tribute to the Corona Warriors saying, "To these corona warriors, I bow my head with humility," who had lived the mantra of "Seva Parmo Dharma". He then exclaimed how his dream of an "Atmanirbhar Bharat" was turning into a pledge with which India will cater to the entire world. Highlighting the importance of humanity as a central force in shaping policies, he said, "While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process and our journey." He further highlighted the need to be "Vocal for Local" midnset and re-skilling and up-skilling programmes to boost self-reliance in economy. He also emphasised the significance achievments like optical fibre coverage in villages, New Education Policy for better literacy goals, corona vaccine production and its successful last-mile delivery. The PM then concluded his speech expressing the need to give a "befitting reply" to any and all security threats to India saying, "From the LAC to LoC, our jawans have given a befitting reply to anyone who tried to eye our territory. The whole world has seen our capabilities in Ladakh."

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2020 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of his entire speech here.

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2021

In his Red Fort speech this year, PM Narendra Modi declared "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayaas' as a crucial motto for the achievement of all developement goals as he outlined the roadmap for India's development. He went on, "India needs to keep moving forward and make new promises for the next 25 years" which he called as India's "Amrit Kaal". He also remembered the 1947 Partition horrors and honoured its victims. Later, he recounted India's achievements in fighting Covid-19 with fast-tracked vaccine production, laying roads in all Indian villages, proving bank accounts, tap water connections, Ujjwala gas links and Ayushman Bharat Healthcards to poorest of poor across villages. "Malnutrition and lack of micro-nutrients are affecting the growth of poor children. Looking at this, it has been decided to fortify the rice given to the poor via different government schemes," PM Modi said on improving the health standards of the Indians. He also announced the launch of Mission Karmyogi for skilling government officials and the PM Gati Shakti Plan, an INR 100 Lakh Crore national infrastructure plan.

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2021 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of his entire speech here.

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2022

While focusing on the vision of "Amrit Kaal", Yuva and Nari Shakti and to build an aspirational India, PM Narendra Modi wished the country on the occassion and delivered the principles of ‘Panch pran’ or five pledges to build a stronger India in the coming 25 years. Attacking ‘parivarvaad’ or nepotism, he highlighted with unity, integrity, respecting diversity, and preserving heritage as the building blocks of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Instead of the conventional highlighting of achievements of the government during the speech, this time the PM provided his vision for India for the next 25 years and stayed away from delivering a report card on the economic and political achievement of various schemes and policies. He concluded his spech by paying a tribute to the freedom fighter, nation builders and saluted the adivasi freedom fighters who contributed to the cause of India's independence from the British Raj.

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2022 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of his entire speech here.

PM Modi's Independence Day Speech 2023

Speaking to the 140 crore 'Parivarjan' on the 77th Independence Day, PM Narendra Modi exuded optimism with his central message of 'demography, democracy, and diversity.' He addressed the harrowing unrest in Manipur and emphasised with it. With the "reform, perform and transform" policy of the government, the PM noted that India will rise to be the top three economy in the world in the following 5 years. While recounting the success in reducing terrorism and militancy, the PM stressed the need to fight three evils of corruption, nepotism, and appeasement. He concluded his speech by charting this Amrit Kaal was "period for all of us to do something for Maa Bharati" and that "The trinity of demography, democracy and diversity has the power to realise the dreams of the nation."

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Speech 2023 (Watch Video):

Read the transcript of his entire speech here.

Independence Day 2024 Ceremony:

Upon his arrival at the Red Fort, PM Modi will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He will then inspect the Guard of Honour. After inspecting the Guard of Honour, the Prime Minister will proceed to the ramparts of the Red Fort to unfurl the national flag. After being unfurled, the Tricolour will receive a "Rashtriya Salute". As soon as the national flag is unfurled by PM Modi, flower petals will be showered at the venue. After the showering of flower petals, the he will address the nation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2024 12:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).