President Droupadi Murmu has called on citizens to deepen their commitment to inclusive growth, national security, and environmental protection as India prepares to celebrate its 80th Independence Day.
In her televised address to the nation on Friday, Murmu said political independence must be matched by economic opportunity, reiterating the government’s target of transforming India into a fully developed economy by the centenary of its independence in 2047.
Economic Growth and Digital Infrastructure: Highlighting India’s economic trajectory, Murmu noted that the country remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with growth projected at more than twice the global average.
Key points from the economic address include:
- Poverty Reduction: Over 250 million people have been lifted out of multidimensional poverty in recent years.
- Financial Inclusion: Nearly 590 million individuals have been integrated into the formal banking system via the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, with women accounting for over 320 million beneficiaries.
- Digital Leadership: India now accounts for more than half of global real-time digital payments, driven by widespread adoption among rural traders and small business owners.
- Social Safety Nets: Direct welfare programs continue to supply free food grains to over 800 million citizens and provide subsidized healthcare coverage for 600 million people under Ayushman Bharat.
Women and Youth Driving Transformation
The President underscored the expanding role of women in national development, citing the creation of over 30 million financially self-reliant Lakhpati Didis through rural self-help groups and the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which reserves 33 per cent of legislative seats for women. She also celebrated female athletes, who secured eight of India’s 13 gold medals at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Addressing the country’s young demographic—where 65 per cent of citizens are under 35—Murmu highlighted the expansion of the startup ecosystem and ongoing administrative reforms aimed at eliminating examination malpractice to safeguard public recruitment transparency.
Security, Regional Peace, and Foreign Policy
On defence and foreign relations, Murmu paid tribute to the Armed Forces, pointing to recent counter-terrorism successes under Operation Sindoor and declaring significant progress in curbing left-wing extremism across central India.
She reaffirmed India’s commitment to a rules-based global order, greater representation for the Global South in multilateral bodies, and strategic trade partnerships, while urging public participation in environmental conservation initiatives such as Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE).
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