NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Saturday lasted 75 minutes, making it his shortest speech in four years and the fourth shortest of his 13 consecutive appearances at the historic ramparts.The 2026 address was significantly shorter than his 103-minute speech last year, which was the longest of his tenure and surpassed his previous record of 98 minutes in 2024. Modi’s shortest Independence Day speech came in 2017, when he spoke for 56 minutes.The Prime Minister’s 2026 address was also considerably longer than his shortest-ever speech. In 2017, Modi spoke for 56 minutes. His first Independence Day address in 2014 lasted 65 minutes.Over the years, the Prime Minister’s speeches have ranged from under an hour to more than 100 minutes. He spoke for 88 minutes in 2015 and 96 minutes in 2016, followed by 83 minutes in 2018 and nearly 92 minutes in 2019.Also Read: 80th Independence Day: A throwback at PM Modi’s signature Red Fort turbansThe address lasted 90 minutes in 2020, 88 minutes in 2021, 74 minutes in 2022 and 90 minutes in 2023.The 75-minute speech came as Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort. Last year, he overtook Indira Gandhi’s record of 12 consecutive speeches, moving behind only Jawaharlal Nehru, who delivered 17 such addresses in succession.Nehru’s 1947 Independence Day speech lasted 72 minutes, while I K Gujral spoke for 71 minutes in 1997. Among the shortest addresses, Nehru and Indira Gandhi each spoke for 14 minutes in 1954 and 1966 respectively. Manmohan Singh’s 2012 and 2013 speeches lasted 32 and 35 minutes, while Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke for 25 minutes in 2002 and 30 minutes in 2003.Despite the shorter duration, Modi used the address to set out a broad economic and national agenda. He unveiled “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, describing seven streams of strength that would drive India’s next phase of development and its journey towards Viksit Bharat.
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Manufacturing featured prominently in his economic pitch, with Modi calling for a major expansion of the sector. He also placed emphasis on national duty and youth participation.“Let us put country before self; national interest and sense of duty should be our identity, this is India’s hour,” Modi said.He also credited citizens with India’s economic progress, saying, “People’s efforts have resulted in taking India from fragile five to major economy in last 12 years.”Modi further said the capabilities of young people would be harnessed for nation-building, placing youth, manufacturing and economic expansion at the centre of his vision for the years ahead.
